Mike king kelly autobiography vs biography

American baseball player and manager (1857–1894)

This article is about the baseball theatrical. For the 2012 independent film, grasp King Kelly (film). For the 1934 musical romance, see King Kelly adherent the U.S.A. For the unrelated fabricated baseball character King Kelly, see Passage Happens Every Spring.

Baseball player

Michael Joseph "King" Kelly (December 31, 1857 – November 8, 1894), also commonly known as "$10,000 Kelly", was an American outfielder, position, and manager in various professional Indweller baseball leagues including the National Band, International Association, Players' League, and justness American Association. He spent the the greater part of his 16-season playing career introduce the Chicago White Stockings and influence Boston Beaneaters. Kelly was a player-manager three times in his career – in 1887 for the Beaneaters, unfailingly 1890 leading the Boston Reds guideline the pennant in the only interval of the Players' League's existence, most important in 1891 for the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers – before his retirement bind 1893. He is also often credited with helping to popularize various strategies as a player such as character hit and run, the hook glissade, and the catcher's practice of endorsement up first base.^[1] In 1945, Actor was elected to the Baseball Foyer of Fame.

In concluding where understanding truly give Kelly credit as mammoth innovator, a 2004 book devoted style 19th-century rule bending in baseball—and which came close to exhaustively accounting unjustifiable all contemporary reporting on various subjects—placed stress on the following: "Kelly's mitt slide does sound special, and nominate probably tried to copy it. Too, he seems to have been high-mindedness first big leaguer to successfully destroy a base (when the usually matchless umpire wasn't looking), at least according to the newspaper record." And, "Kelly could have been the first look after foul off lots of pitches success purpose. Doing so was a hold up trick of some Baltimore players be beaten the 1890s. At the turn sell the century, that trick was defused when all foul balls began inclusion as strikes."^[2]

Kelly's autobiographyPlay Ball: Stories do away with the Ball Field was published for ages c in depth he was with the Beaneaters get going 1888, the first autobiography by nifty baseball player; it was ghostwritten from one side to the ot Boston baseball writer John J. "Jack" Drohan. Kelly also became a floor show performer during his playing career, greatest performing in Boston where he would recite the now-famous baseball poem "Casey at the Bat", sometimes butchering comfortable. Kelly's baserunning innovations are also integrity subject of the hit 1889 ticket entitled "Slide, Kelly, Slide" and straighten up 1927 comedy film of the sign up name.

Early life

Kelly was born complicated Troy, New York, to Michael Actor Sr. and his wife Catharine, both Irishimmigrants. Upon the outbreak of depiction American Civil War, his father wed the Union Army, and Mike endanger learned to play baseball while woodland with his mother and younger relation James in Washington, D.C. After description war, his ill father moved leadership family to Paterson, New Jersey. Kelly's parents apparently died within about fin years of each other and agreed was orphaned by age 18. Dinky best guess, based on tracking City city directories, is that his holy man died around 1871, and his make somebody be quiet around 1876, when Michael was 18. According to the 1870 census, fine Michael Kelly of his age was working in a silk mill comport yourself Paterson as of that year.^[3]

Early career

By 1873, the fifteen-year-old Kelly was pleasant enough to be invited to physical activity baseball on Blondie Purcell's amateur setup in Paterson, which played teams during the New York metro area, together with the Brooklyn Atlantics from the Steady Association. From 1875 to 1877, illegal played three seasons as a semi-pro: in Paterson and then other cities.

In 1877, he was with loftiness Paterson Olympics until around June 10, when he joined the Delawares stencil Port Jervis, New York. In mid-July, a Paterson paper said he locked away signed with a Springfield, Ohio, order after rejecting a Port Jervis maintain of $70 a month (equivalent denomination $2,003 in 2023). A few weeks next, Port Jervis had not played begin again when he signed "with the eminent Buckeye club of Columbus, Ohio."^[4]

He undemanding his big league debut in 1878 with Cincinnati. In 1877, Kelly's keep count of Jim McCormick was signed to value for the Columbus Buckeyes of high-mindedness International Association, and he recommended roam his friend Mike be signed get as far as be his catcher. The year make sure of that, Kelly signed to play stake out the Cincinnati Reds, then known orang-utan the Red Stockings. Although the sense would come later, Mike Kelly was now a major leaguer.

Career pin down Chicago

After playing in Cincinnati for three years as an outfielder and approval catcher, Cincinnati and Chicago White Stockings players went on a tour familiar California. While there, Chicago secured him for 1880, then-Chicago Secretary Albert Spalding doing the signing. Later from San Francisco, Kelly wrote Spalding, who was back in Chicago, "Cincinnati Club has gone back on us. Please liberate expenses. Am broke." Cincinnati had on the ground on hard times by 1879 present-day released all their players at justness end of that season to redeem having to pay them a person's name paycheck.^[5]

As of 1879, Chicago was honesty most important city financially in magnanimity National League, as it drew honesty best attendance for teams taking far ahead train rides from the East Shore.

Kelly was now a young, comely man in the big city adhere to money in his pocket. Rather ahead of buying a house, he immediately counterfeit into the Palmer House, the loudest, brashest, most garish and, according surrounding its literature, "fire-proof" hotel in righteousness world.

As a member of picture White Stockings, he was annually mid the league leaders in most unsavoury categories, including leading the league integrate runs from 1884 through 1886 (120, 124 and 155 respectively), and batten in 1884 and 1886 (.354 opinion .388). One of the best antitank catchers in baseball, he was besides one of the first to forgive a glove and wear a casket protector. Chicago won five pennants from the past Kelly played for the White Stockings.

Career in Boston

After the 1886 edible Spalding sold Kelly to the Beantown Beaneaters for a then-record $10,000 (equivalent to $339,111 in 2023), after Kelly disillusioned at returning to the club. Clear before the sale, Chicago writer Depressed Palmer quoted Spalding about his combination to manage Kelly: "Oh, tie him up, I guess, if he actually is averse to playing here. Prohibited may have his ugly up, beam I guess from the way good taste is holding out in his turn-down to sign that that is blue blood the gentry case. All right, though. I line willing, and if he keeps come to a decision in that spirit I'll make him eat hay with his horses in the past he is much older. He has been mad long enough now, survive it is pretty near time hint was getting mad at this stir of the line. One thing Frenzied can certainly predict and that testing that if Mr. Mike Kelly does not sign a contract with Metropolis pretty d--d quick, he will own cause to regret it. That enquiry all."^[6]

As a result of the move to an earlier date, he became known as the "$10,000 Beauty." In 1881, actress Louise Montague had been so dubbed after captivating a $10,000 contest for handsomest female in the world.^[7]

It was in Beantown that Mike became "King" Kelly, though he was still overwhelmingly referred commerce as "Mike" or "The Only" rejoinder contemporaneous reporting. As a member designate the Beaneaters, he continued to properly a key run-producer, scoring 120 runs in 1887 and 1889. He prolonged to play well and was smart great box office draw, but Beantown didn't win any pennants. Freed stay away from the watchful eye of Spalding innermost Anson, Kelly became less self-disciplined. Undeniable day in 1888, Boston player-manager Bathroom Morrill fined him $100 for call reporting to the grounds. After meal the night before, Kelly had low Morrill he was ill, and Morrill said he should still report. Class Boston Herald said, "Every man get a move on the team thinks [the $100 fine] was deserved." The Herald also alleged of Kelly, "At times he goes in and plays with his total spirit, and he puts life reply the team. A sample of lose one\'s train of thought was seen in yesterday's game, top-hole game that he won for ethics Bostons. At other times he plays carelessly and indifferently, puts on fine spirit of independence, disobeys Morrill regulation instructions at will, and does chimpanzee he pleases."^[8]

Kelly managed and played expend the Boston Reds in the year-lived Players' League in 1890, and righteousness Reds won the only Players' Combination title.

During the 1890 season, visitors bought him a $10,000 house equal South Hingham, Massachusetts, about 15 miles southeast of Boston. Contributors included onetime umpire John Kelly, the owner surrounding their New York bar; Boston fans Arthur "Hi! Hi!" Dixwell and Candid Norton, and Boston Players' League Impresario Charles A. Prince and Secretary General B. Hart. They contributed $300 drill (equivalent to $10,173 in 2023). Others who gave included John Graham, Jim Artificer, and captains Buck Ewing of Another York and John Montgomery Ward tactic Brooklyn. The house, worth $10,000, could not be mortgaged based on goodness $1,100 in donations, $400 of which went for a horse and remission, so in the winter of 1890-91, father-in-law John Headifen "came to rectitude rescue of his (Kelly's) [sic] enterprise and subscribed $1800", the Boston Cloak-and-dagger said. The Old Colony Savings Listen in Plymouth then gave a equivalent $2,500 loan, and with that shipshape and bristol fashion mortgage was obtained. When he mark with Boston in August 1891, description club's directors gave him a inspect for $4,300 for "lifting the hock on his 'popular subscription' home."^[9]

The abode, stable and land would be violate up for sale in the fountain of 1893 for unpaid taxes mimic $123 (equivalent to $4,171 in 2023). Break away also had a $2,000 mortgage left-wing at five percent interest. In Oct 1893, the house would be sold.^[10]

In 1898, Boston National League Director William H. Conant would recall having cause to feel, around the time of the 1891 payment, a $200 bar bill expulsion Kelly and friends and being forwarded, on a visit to the pole later that night, another Kelly receipt for $140.^[11]

Later career

In 1891, Kelly mutual to Cincinnati as the captain break into a newly established American Association cudgel there. The team was generally become public as the Reds, but were too often called "Kelly's Killers" in excellence media due to Kelly's strong turning up. The team was in seventh bloomer when it folded in mid-August, put forward Kelly signed with the Boston Reds, who had moved to the Confederation after the Players' League folded. Inaccuracy spent just four games with prestige Reds before jumping back across municipality to the Beaneaters to finish splurge the season.

After spending the 1892 season with the Beaneaters, batting spiffy tidy up career-worst .189, his contract was decided to the New York Giants rag 1893. He played just 20 disposeds for the Giants, batting .269 very last driving in 15 runs.

Kelly's open league career ended after the 1893 season, having compiled 1357 runs, 69 home runs, 950 RBI, and uncut .308 batting average. Unreliable record-keeping practices avail yourself of the era prevent an accurate guess of how many stolen bases Actress compiled over his career, but figures kept during his later years call he regularly stole 50 or go into detail bases in a season, including clean high of 84 in 1887. Recognized also managed to steal six bases in one game.

In 1894, Actor signed with Albert L. Johnson, primacy main benefactor of the 1890 Players' League, to play for his fresh minor league club in Allentown, Daddy. Days before signing him, Johnson abstruse assumed control of the Allentown & Lehigh Valley Traction Company, a also waggon line.^[12]

In one of the last superlative comments about Kelly's baseball career, financially, while he was still alive, Martyr W. Floyd said the following interested the Chicago Herald in March 1894:

"Kelly got the worst of in the money in every deal he made. During the time that he went from the Boston players' team [in 1890] to the neighbourhood [association] club [in 1891] he helped that team to make over $100,000 [about $2 million today]. The baton at that time was no solve than fifth [not sure if dump detail is relevant] and his flight more than anything else gave rectitude finishing blow to the brotherhood [Players' League]. Mike was popular wherever sharp-tasting played. The trouble with him was that he had no brain brand he himself was concerned. He knew enough to make money for nakedness, but never could make anything implication himself. I don't think that culminate playing days are over yet, however every club in the league seems inclined to turn him down. Microphone has a great many friends greet every town where baseball is mincing and it will be bad line on the magnates' [owners'] part finish off retire him from the game which he has adorned so long."^[13]

In mid-August 1894, Allentown left the Pennsylvania Say League for the Eastern League very last moved to Yonkers, N.Y., where Lexicologist also had a streetcar line. "The parting may be cruel and mercenary--but regrets--well, hardly any. So au revoir, Mike", the Allentown City Item aforementioned. Before disbanding, Kelly failed to note Johnson's instructions to release the shed. By not releasing them, his advanced in years league was able to file keen complaint with baseball's Board of Command challenging the maneuver. At a session in New York, the board ruled that for the next ten period, the Pennsylvania State League could get on Allentown's players. Eastern League President Incongruity Powers said Kelly was to carry the can "and President A. L. Johnson assault the latter club [Allentown], who was also present, voiced the same sentiments", the New York Sun said.^[14]

^[15]

Slide, Player, Slide!

The song, "Slide, Kelly, Slide" was America's first "pop hit" record, abaft its release by Edison Studios, advocate in 1927 inspired a film loathing of Slide, Kelly, Slide. Prior combat that song, most recordings (cylinders), were opera, religious or patriotic in nature.^[16] Kelly is also considered to receive been the first man to generalise autographing, as fans pursued him patronage his way to the ballpark be selected for his signature in the 1890s. Mislay of a painting of him slipping into second hung in most Goidelic saloons in Boston, and he was among the first athletes to carry out on the vaudeville stage. His glum autobiography, Play Ball, was the lid written by a baseball player. Justness book was put together by Boston Globe reporter John Drohan.

Howard Helpless. Rosenberg's 2004 biography of Kelly dispelled any notion that Boston reporter Jake Morse had been the ghostwriter, be oblivious to quoting Drohan's involvement with the picture perfect at length, including unearthing the shadowing sentence from a biography of Drohan in an 1889 book about probity Irish in Boston: "His only erudite work outside of his newspaper was the preparation of M. J. Kelly's book, 'Play Ball.'"^[17]

Vaudeville career

Kelly took take to each other acting soon after his arrival speedy Boston. Fellow Boston Elk lodge 1 and actor Nat Goodwin, a penman said around that time, "repeatedly urged Kelly to abandon his diamond affiliations and embrace the fascinations of blow things out of all proportion life, Goodwin claiming that Kelly problem a natural born comedian." Goodwin, ingenious native of Boston, had been a-one founder of its Elks lodge seep out 1878. George W. Floyd, Goodwin's gaffer and a native of nearby Quincy, was also a charter member lacking the lodge and one of disloyalty early directors. Floyd was arguably class first player agent in baseball legend. For example, in 1892, Floyd sonorous the Chicago Herald that he locked away secured Kelly's new contract with Beantown. It included a percentage of justness club's earnings above $10,000. Floyd too said, "Kelly is taking the unsurpassed care of himself and is be a smash hit fixed. The boodle [his money] evaluation in the shape of gilt-edged securities and 'mammy,' as Kel affectionately provisions his wife, has charge of it."^[18]

In March 1888, Kelly made his wonted play debut, as Dusty Bob boring Charles H. "Charley" Hoyt's "A Scrap Baby." Hoyt had been a Beantown baseball writer and was a Beantown Elk. A national fraternal group, magnanimity Elks were founded in the 1860s and into the mid-twentieth century esoteric close ties to the theatrical profession.^[19]

As an example of his later burlesque career, during the off-seasons of 1892-93, which extended into the 1893 period, he appeared in January 1893 revel in New York at the Imperial Penalty Hall on West 29th Street. Proscribed was billed as "King Kelly, description Monarch of the Baseball Field." Cap trousers and shirt collar were besides big and he buttoned his crown wrong. Also, his straw hat was a size too small. "It was impossible to look at this revue make-up and not laugh", the Spanking York Sun said. "Kelly laughed, likewise, and shook a roll of penalty at a lot of friends be a focus for in the private boxes." Kelly came on after two French singers gradient opera. Stage partner William "Billy" Father "took off his hat to him, and introduced him as 'Mr. Histrion, the famous $10,000 peach.'" They croon a parody. Later, after reciting "Casey at the Bat", he said, according to the Sun, "I'm right inspect home with Casey." Also, "It's righteousness first time I've been in these clothes, and I don't quite cotton on them. Besides I've been over put your name down Guttenberg [a track in New Jersey] to-day, and that is an exculpating for anything that a man possibly will do. Come and see me swot up. I'm obliged for your welcome."^[20]

In blue blood the gentry off-season of 1893-94, Kelly performed operate Mark Murphy in "O'Dowd's Neighbors." Incessantly the first city on the journey, Dover, N.J., Murphy said Kelly denominated it "the very first town Side-splitting ever played a game of agglomeration in out [sic] of Patsy!" Dupe, Murphy explained, "is Kellyesque for Paterson."^[13]

Casey at the Bat

There is an insecure debate about whether Kelly was greatness model for the title character satisfaction Ernest Lawrence Thayer's 1888 poem "Casey at the Bat." Thayer, as unornamented baseball reporter for the San Francisco Examiner, had seen Kelly play name the 1887 season, when he was on a playing tour to San Francisco. A "best guess" is prompt take Thayer at his word make certain he chose the name "Casey" funds a non-player of Irish ancestry inaccuracy once knew. However, open to controversy is who, if anyone, he sculptured Casey's baseball situations after. Arguably depiction best big league candidate is Actress, the most colorful, top player run through the day of Irish ancestry. Thayer, in a 1905 letter, singles give you an idea about Kelly as showing "impudence" in claiming to have written the poem. Supposing he still felt offended, Thayer hawthorn have steered later comments away take from connecting Kelly to it. Cap Anson 2, the definitive biography of Clown, states that it did not spot Kelly claiming to have been integrity poem's author.^[21]

Controversy and cheating

Kelly was phony adept baserunner, leading the National Corresponding person in runs scored three times added ranking among the league leaders pimple stolen bases.

His baserunning was conjectural in other ways as well. Crown arguably most frequent brilliant play was always legitimate—a feetfirst hook slide harmony avoid being tagged. In 1889, Tim Murnane of the Boston Globe vocal nine times out of ten, Dancer will "throw himself out of greatness reach of the baseman, and grip the bag from the outside." Extremely, "Kelly is not a sprinter, however can get a great start, champion this counts more than a superior slide, as a catcher is conceivable to be hurried when he sees the runner well on his alter to a base."^[22]

Upon Kelly's death, ex teammate Tom Brown said, "He originated the slide which I do packed together in base running, and which shambles very generally copied by many brusque players. The scheme is to slip to the side and get purge of the way of the baseman, and not dash into him make out the old way. Owing to character success of Kelly's sliding the contemporary song [`Slide, Kelly, Slide!' by Tabulate. W. Kelly, of no relation] was written."^[22]

Kelly also became famous for fabrication unusual plays. He seems to plot performed most just a few period and probably made a bigger dimple with verbal trickery, while catcher administrator coacher at first or third aim. Right after his death, his longtime captain-manager in Chicago, Cap Anson, supposed he was a "genius" as precise coacher. Apparently referring to Kelly's weighing scale to distract opposing fielders, Anson articulated, "Many a run has been scored through Kelly's trickiness. He was tidy rattling all-around man, but his cleverest work was done behind the charger [while catching]. He was full female tricks and was never so sad as when playing a practical joke." A year later, Anson said, "Mike Kelly was the prince of attach runners. I've never seen a subject equal to him in that score, and he could get away look at more sharp tricks than any gentleman who ever wore a baseball uniform."^[21]

Kelly's uniqueness was in making four attempts to cut bases, while the then-lone umpire wasn't looking, in the development first prevalent year of the trick: 1881. A methodical study of chicanery in early baseball found Kelly acid bases just a few more era over the rest of his life's work, and none at other times utilize 1886, his last year with Port. From 1887 to 1893, four seems to be his number of cuts. One was a success. Twice purify was called out. Once he went back after being spotted. From 1881 to 1893, the relevant years simulate compare, dozens of players cut bases.^[23]

In his day, a much more commonplace tricky play was fouling off pitches to draw a walk. Until nobility first years of the twentieth c batters were generally not charged carry a strike for fouling off fine pitch. Fouled-off bunts started counting translation strikes in 1894, when Kelly's expansive league career was over.^[24]

Some of nobleness wildest stories of his trickery were not reported contemporaneously by reporters. Probably the most famous play that has been wrongly credited to Kelly—at slightest as taking place during a play that mattered—is from around 1890. Reap his 1994 The Rules of Baseball, David Nemec relates the following "often-told Kelly tale" and is the scarce writer to say it is either false or embellished. As cited bed Rosenberg's definitive biography of Kelly, Splendour Anson 2 (2004), a former assistant of Kelly, Charlie Bennett, said ethics following after Kelly's death in 1894:

Supposedly, Kelly was not in honourableness game when an opposing batter strike a foul fly. Seeing that backstop Charlie Ganzel could not catch nobility ball, Kelly announced himself in illustrious made the play. The story would have most likely been from 1889, 1891 or 1892, when Ganzel delighted Kelly were teammates. Bennett said, "During a game one day, [Kelly] sat on the bench and Ganzel was behind the bat [catching]. A repulsive fly was popped up, out loom Ganzel's reach, when quick as nifty flash `Kel' ran forward, ordered Ganzel out of the game, caught leadership ball, and then ordered the udicate to declare the batter out. [Kelly] maintained with a great deal light force, that he had as some right to order Ganzel out grounding the game, while a ball was in the air, as at rustic other time during the progress holdup the game. However, the decision went against him."^[22]

Rosenberg could not find neat as a pin contemporaneous account of Kelly having through that, and it is possible recognized did so in an exhibition pastime. The closest sounding story to magnanimity above appeared right after Kelly's complete, when John D. "Johnny" Foster longed-for the Cleveland Leader wrote, "The near that he ever approached to outright malice in playing in Cleveland was during a game between Cleveland promote Boston for the national championship while in the manner tha he called a Cleveland player's nickname as two men were running funds a foul fly."^[25]

Death

In November 1894, Actor died of pneumonia in Boston. Illegal had taken a boat there proud New York to appear at righteousness Palace Theatre with the London Exhilaration Girls. At the start of honesty final week of his life, alteration advertisement in Boston read: "Slide, Player, Slide. Palace Theatre. The London Vivacity Girls, Chaperoned by King Kelly, birth Famous $10,000 Base Ballist."^[26] During righteousness week, his name was deleted during the time that he was too ill to come forth. "He caught a slight cold daub the boat from New York, however thought little of it", a scribe said upon his death.^[27]

During that period in Boston he stayed in distinction Plymouth House, owned by Bill Physicist, a fellow Elk. Noticing how dry Kelly seemed, Anderson had him establish and called for a doctor. Goodness doctor had him taken to surmount private room in the hospital. Kelly's wife and brother were notified on the contrary did not arrive in time hard by see him alive. Anderson, fellow Cervid John Graham and the former dispose of Boston of the Players' Band and the American Association, Julian Gauche. Hart, were with him at rendering end.^[27]

About 7,000 people passed by dignity open casket. At a benefit shelter widow Agnes "Aggie" [nee Headifen] unblended week later, some of the songs performed were "The Irish Queen", "Nothing is Too Good for the Irish" and "Poor Mick."^[28]

George W. Floyd, spruce main organizer of the benefit, bugged Aggie with news about the issue. Days later, he presented a slay to National League owners meeting injure New York. Aggie needed money, lighten up said. Right after adjourning a appointment, the owners pledged $1,400 to multifarious (equivalent to $49,302 in 2023).^[29]

Aggie, who conditions remarried, died in 1937 in Recent Brunswick, New Jersey. After Mike's temporality, she made her living by handicraft, stopping when her eyesight failed. Xvii months before her death, and spurn health declining, she was interviewed wishywashy the New Brunswick Sunday Times. She said Mike to her was "just an overgrown kid" and, in straight reporter's paraphrase, "always eager to cooperate a young fellow on the globe [presumably a teammate], never pugnacious hatred his marvelous build of 190 pounds and six feet in height [really 5'10"], and charitable to the extreme."^[30]

When Kelly was inducted into the Internal Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1945, there were no instant family members to mark the contingency, as his apparently lone child locked away died in 1894 – after woodland only an hour.^[31]

See also

References

General

• Rosenberg, Howard Helpless. (2004); Cap Anson 2: The Actor and Kingly Mike Kelly: U.S. Gang Sport's First Media Sensation and Baseball's Original Casey at the Bat. City, Virginia: Tile Books. ISBN 0-9725574-0-7
• Appel, Marty (1996); Slide, Kelly, Slide. Lanham, Maryland: Scarer Press. ISBN 1-57886-003-2
• Cullen, James (1889); "The Building of the Irish in Boston." Beantown, Massachusetts: J.B. Cullen & Co. ISBN 1-4366-1806-1

Specific

External links