Speed Kelly, baseball player, 1909-1909

Speed Kelly

Born: 8/19/1884 in Bryan, OH, USA

Died: 5/6/1949 in Goshen, IN, USA

MLB Debut: 1909-07-13 | Final Game: 1909-10-01

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: R. B. Kelly

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Biography

Speed Kelly, born in 1884, was a position player who made a brief appearance in Major League Baseball during the early 20th century. His career spanned from July 13, 1909, to October 1, 1909, during a period characterized by a transition in baseball styles and strategies, as the game began to evolve from the deadball era toward a more offensive approach. Although Kelly's time in the majors was limited to just 17 games, he made an impact that reflected the hustle and determination typical of players of his era. In his short stint, Kelly recorded 6 hits with a batting average of .143. He contributed 1 run batted in and demonstrated his speed on the bases with 1 stolen base. Despite not achieving significant power numbers, as evidenced by his lack of home runs, Kelly's involvement in the game during a time when players were beginning to explore the possibilities of speed and agility on the field helps to contextualize his role in baseball history. His legacy, while modest, is a reminder of the many players who contributed to the rich tapestry of the sport during its formative years.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
17 42 3 6 2 1 0 1 1 3 14 0.143 0.200 0.238 0.438 0.0

Career AVG .143 vs. league average .244 across their career seasons — 41.5% below league average.

Career OBP .200 vs. league average .306 across their career seasons — 34.7% below league average.

Career SLG .238 vs. league average .312 across their career seasons — 23.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.438 vs. league average 0.619 across their career seasons — 29.2% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1909 WSN AL 17 42 3 6 2 1 0 1 1 3 14 0.143 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 3 3 5 5 2 3
3B 10 7 8 15 4 2
OF 1 0 1 0 0 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1909 WS1 2B 3 3 5 5 2 3
1909 WS1 3B 10 7 8 15 4 2
1909 WS1 OF 1 0 1 0 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 3
Third Base 9

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
University of Chicago Chicago IL 1903, 1904
Purdue University West Lafayette IN 1906