Cooperstown Chronicles – George Kelly
Photo courtesy of TSN Archives/Icon SMI
I decided to profile Hall of Famer George Kelly, who was enshrined by the Veteran’s Committee in 1973.
The Numbers
Played 1915-1932 (16 Seasons)
1622 Games
5993 At Bats
.297 Batting Average
819 Runs
1778 Hits
337 Doubles
76 Triples
148 HRs
1020 RBI
386 Walks
65 SBs
Six .300+ Seasons
Five 30+ Double Seasons (Two 40+)
One 10+ Triple Season
Five 100+ RBI Seasons
World Series: 25 of 101 (.248), 11 Runs, 2 Doubles, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 5 Walks
Awards
MVP Votes in 3 Seasons
Top Ten Finishes
Slugging % - 3 Times
OPS – Twice
Games – Once (Led league in 1920)
At Bats – Three Times
Runs – Once
Hits – Once
Doubles - 4 Times
Home Runs – 7 Times (Led league in 1921)
Total Bases - 4 Times
Extra-Base Hits - 3 Times
RBI - 6 Times (Led league in 1920 & 1924)
Hit by Pitch – Twice
Hall of Fame Yardsticks:
Black Ink: Batting – 13 (178) (Average HOFer ≈ 27)
Gray Ink: Batting – 79 (294) (Average HOFer ≈ 144)
HOF Standards: Batting – 22.0 (529) (Average HOFer ≈ 50)
HOF Monitor: Batting – 48.0 (379) (Likely HOFer > 100)
Well, the numbers clearly don’t support George Kelly’s induction into the HOF. He had a couple of decent years, but nothing that blows you away. Bill James has called him the worst Hall of Famer. I can’t say I have come across anyone to put up as an argument. He benefited by his teammate Frankie Frisch being in charge of the Veterans Committee. I don’t know how anyone with a vote can sleep at night with George Kelly in the HOF and Andre Dawson on the outside looking in. Sorry Highpockets, but you wouldn’t be getting my vote.
References
Baseball-reference.com
BR Bullpen
Past Chronicles
Roberto Alomar
Richie Ashburn*
Earl Averill*
Harold Baines
Albert Belle
Jim Bottomley*
Pete Browning
Jim Bunning *
Bert Byleven
Joe Carter
Orlando Cepeda*
Rocky Colavito
Dave Concepcion
David Cone
Roger Connor*
Larry Corcoran
Mike Cuellar
George Davis*
Andre Dawson
Larry Doby*
Bobby Doerr*
Jimmie Dykes (Player/Manager)
Dwight Evans
Rick Ferrell*
Chuck Finley
Steve Finley
Nellie Fox*
John Franco
Gary Gaetti
Steve Garvey
Luis Gonzalez
Dwight Gooden
Mark Grace
Bobby Grich
Charlie Grimm (Player/Manager)
Ron Guidry
Billy Herman*
Keith Hernandez
Orel Hershiser
Whitey Herzog (Manager)
Gil Hodges
Ralph Houk (Manager)
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Travis Jackson*
Tommy John
Bob Johnson
Addie Joss*
Jim Kaat
George Kell*
Tom Kelly (Manager)
Chuck Klein*
Jerry Koosman
Bill James & Pete Palmer
Barry Larkin
Tony Lazzeri*
Freddie Lindstrom*
Mickey Lolich
Ernie Lombardi*
Fred Lynn
Sherry Magee
Roger Maris
Billy Martin (Player/Manager)
Dennis Martinez
Edgar Martinez
Bobby Matthews
Don Mattingly
Gene Mauch (Manager)
Bill Mazeroski*
Fred McGriff
Mark McGwire
Bid McPhee
Johnny Mize*
Paul Molitor*
Jack Morris
Tony Mullane
Dale Murphy
Graig Nettles
Hal Newhouser*
Lefty O’Doul
Tony Oliva
Al Oliver
Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso
Dave Parker
Wes Parker
Lance Parrish
Boog Powell
Tim Raines
Willie Randolph
Pee Wee Reese*
Jim Rice
Phil Rizzuto*
Brooks Robinson*
Pete Ro$e
Amos Rusie*
Jimmy Ryan
Ron Santo
Curt Schilling
Red Schoendienst* (Player/Manager)
Ted Simmons
Enos Slaughter*
Lee Smith
Rusty Staub
Dave Stieb
Mel Stottlemyre
Harry Stovey
Sam Thompson
Alan Trammell
George Van Haltren
Arky Vaughan*
Mo Vaughn
Bobby Veach
Frank Viola
Lou Whitaker
Bernie Williams
Vic Willis*
Maury Wills
Hack Wilson*
* Signifies actual Hall of Famer
2009 MLB Hall of Fame Ballot | Fantasy Sports Blog
December 8th, 2008 at 9:15 am #
[...] Joe Jackson Travis Jackson* Tommy John Bob Johnson Addie Joss* Jim Kaat George Kell* Joe Kelley* George Kelly* Tom Kelly (Manager) Chuck Klein* Jerry Koosman Bill James & Pete Palmer Barry Larkin Tony [...]
Cooperstown Chronicles - Jesse Haines | 1800blogger
May 7th, 2009 at 8:59 am #
[...] Joe Jackson Travis Jackson* Tommy John Bob Johnson Addie Joss* Jim Kaat George Kell* Joe Kelley* George Kelly* Tom Kelly (Manager) Chuck Klein* Jerry Koosman Bill James & Pete Palmer Barry Larkin Tony [...]
Cooperstown Chronicles - Waite Hoyt | 1800blogger
May 20th, 2009 at 2:04 pm #
[...] Joe Jackson Travis Jackson* Tommy John Bob Johnson Addie Joss* Jim Kaat George Kell* Joe Kelley* George Kelly* Tom Kelly (Manager) Chuck Klein* Jerry Koosman Bill James & Pete Palmer Barry Larkin Tony [...]
Cooperstown Chronicles - Kiki Cuyler | Fantasy Sports Blog
May 28th, 2009 at 7:50 am #
[...] Joe Jackson Travis Jackson* Tommy John Bob Johnson Addie Joss* Jim Kaat George Kell* Joe Kelley* George Kelly* Tom Kelly (Manager) Chuck Klein* Jerry Koosman Bill James & Pete Palmer Barry Larkin Tony [...]