Hal Kelleher
American baseball player (1914-1989)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harold Joseph Kelleher (June 24, 1914 – August 27, 1989) was a Major League Baseball player who played four seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1935 to 1938 in the National League.
| Hal Kelleher | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: June 24, 1914 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| Died: August 27, 1989 (aged 75) Cape May Court House, New Jersey | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 17, 1935, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Last appearance | |
| May 5, 1938, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 4–9 |
| Earned run average | 5.95 |
| Strikeouts | 49 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Minor League career
Kelleher started his Minor League baseball career with the Hazelton Mountaineers in the New York–Pennsylvania League in 1934. After a 13 win season in 1935, Kelleher was promoted to the Philadelphia Phillies late in the season.[1]
Major League Baseball career
On September 17, 1935, in his first Major League game, Kelleher pitched a 1–0 shutout against the Cincinnati Reds. Kelleher won his first two decisions that season.[2] He was also the sixth youngest player in the National League that season.[2] In 1936, Kelleher pitched 14 games, starting four. He had a 0–5 win–loss record with a 5.32 earned run average.[2] A low point of the season was when he gave up five runs during the fifth inning against the New York Giants on May 23.[3]
Kelleher pitched a career high 27 games in 1937, winning 2 games and losing 4 in 58 innings, but his earned run average was considered a bad 6.63. That season he led the league in hit by pitch, hitting seven batters.[2] His last career victory was a 9–5 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 26, 1937, in a relief appearance. He pitched 21⁄3 innings, beating future Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean in the process, who left the game with a "sore arm".[4] After having an 18.41 earned run average in six games during the 1938 season, Kelleher pitched his last game on May 5.[2] In that final game, he pitched 1 inning surrendering 12 runs, all earned, in the Phillies' 2–21 loss.[5]
His career record was 4–9 with a 5.95 earned run average in 50 career games.[2] He died in Cape May Court House, New Jersey, at the age of 75.