Ken Keltner, baseball player, 163 home runs, 1937-1950

Ken Keltner

Born: 10/31/1916 in Milwaukee, WI, USA

Died: 12/12/1991 in New Berlin, WI, USA

MLB Debut: 1937-10-02 | Final Game: 1950-05-25

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: Kenneth Frederick Keltner

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Biography

Ken Keltner, born in 1916, was a prominent American baseball player whose career spanned from 1937 to 1950. Primarily playing third base, Keltner became known for his solid defensive skills and powerful hitting during an era that valued both speed and strength. Over the course of 1,526 games, he amassed 1,570 hits and demonstrated his power with 163 home runs, contributing 852 RBIs to his teams. Keltner finished his career with a respectable batting average of .276 and also showcased his speed on the bases, recording 39 stolen bases. Keltner was a seven-time All-Star, a testament to his consistent performance and respect among his peers during the mid-20th century. He played a significant role in the American League, particularly while with the Cleveland Indians, and is often remembered for his clutch performances and leadership on the field. His contributions came during a time when baseball was evolving, as players began to embrace more dynamic styles of play, moving away from the more conservative strategies of the previous decades. Keltner's legacy endures as one of the key figures of his generation, blending skill and tenacity that made him a fan favorite and a respected competitor in Major League Baseball.

Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Batting

PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS
80.0 73.0 8.0 21.0 4.0 2.0 1.0 12.0 5.0 2.0 0 0.288 0.342 0.438 0.780

Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting

Season PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS
1946 71.0 65.0 6.0 17.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 9.0 4.0 2.0 0 0.262 0.314 0.415 0.729
1947 9.0 8.0 2.0 4.0 1.0 0 0 3.0 1.0 0 0 0.500 0.556 0.625 1.181

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1526 5683 737 1570 308 69 163 852 39 514 480 0.276 0.338 0.441 0.778 10143.5

Career AVG .276 vs. league average .264 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .338 vs. league average .335 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .441 vs. league average .376 across their career seasons — +17.1% above league average.

Career OPS 0.778 vs. league average 0.712 across their career seasons — +9.4% above 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
1937 CLE AL 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1938 CLE AL 149 576 86 159 31 9 26 113 4 33 75 0.276 .272 (+1%) .341 (-7%) .392 (+26%) .734 (+11%) 999.3
1939 CLE AL 154 587 84 191 35 11 13 97 6 51 41 0.325 .274 (+19%) .342 (+11%) .393 (+24%) .735 (+18%) 2115.2
1940 CLE AL 149 543 67 138 24 10 15 77 10 51 56 0.254 .267 (-5%) .335 (-4%) .387 (+8%) .722 (+2%) 140.5
1941 CLE AL 149 581 83 156 31 13 23 84 2 51 56 0.269 .262 (+2%) .332 (-1%) .373 (+30%) .705 (+15%) 1529.5
1942 CLE AL 152 624 72 179 34 4 6 78 4 20 36 0.287 .253 (+13%) .323 (-3%) .349 (+10%) .672 (+3%) 133.2
1943 CLE AL 110 427 47 111 31 3 4 39 2 36 20 0.260 .255 (+2%) .324 (-2%) .346 (+8%) .671 (+3%) 135.1
1944 CLE AL 149 573 74 169 41 9 13 91 4 53 29 0.295 .261 (+13%) .325 (+9%) .357 (+30%) .683 (+20%) 2079.2
1946 CLE AL 116 398 47 96 17 1 13 45 0 30 38 0.241 .256 (-6%) .328 (-11%) .358 (+8%) .687 (-1%) -189.8
1947 CLE AL 151 541 49 139 29 3 11 76 5 59 45 0.257 .262 (-2%) .336 (-2%) .376 (+2%) .712 (avg) -15.5
1948 CLE AL 153 558 91 166 24 4 31 119 2 89 52 0.297 .263 (+13%) .340 (+16%) .379 (+38%) .719 (+27%) 3273.2
1949 CLE AL 80 246 35 57 9 2 8 30 0 38 26 0.232 .262 (-12%) .343 (-3%) .384 (avg) .727 (-2%) -56.3
1950 BOS AL 13 28 2 9 2 0 0 2 0 3 6 0.321 — — — — 0.0

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
6 21 3 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 0.095

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1948 WS CLE 6 21 3 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 0.095

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 1 0 1 0 0 0
3B 1500 0 1576 3070 171 306

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1937 CLE 3B 1 0 0 1 0 0
1938 CLE 3B 149 0 141 271 19 19
1939 CLE 3B 154 0 187 297 13 40
1940 CLE 3B 148 0 170 277 22 27
1941 CLE 3B 149 0 181 346 16 36
1942 CLE 3B 151 0 166 353 30 38
1943 CLE 3B 107 0 113 228 11 24
1944 CLE 3B 149 0 168 369 18 37
1946 CLE 3B 112 0 112 195 11 18
1947 CLE 3B 150 0 156 266 12 29
1948 CLE 3B 153 0 123 312 14 27
1949 CLE 3B 69 0 51 145 4 11
1950 BOS 1B 1 0 1 0 0 0
1950 BOS 3B 8 0 8 10 1 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 1
Third Base 1501

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1944 Baseball Magazine All-Star 3B
1942 Baseball Magazine All-Star 3B
1942 Baseball Magazine All-Star 3B

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1948 Most Valuable Player AL 14th 18.0 336 0
1943 Most Valuable Player AL 31th 2.0 336 0
1942 Most Valuable Player AL 14th 15.0 336 0
1939 Most Valuable Player AL 12th 26.0 336 0
1938 Most Valuable Player AL 14th 16.0 336 0