Al Kenders
Encyclopedia
Albert Daniel George Kenders (born April 4, 1937, at Barrington, New Jersey
) is a retired American
professional baseball
player. A catcher
, he played for eight seasons (1956–1963) in the Philadelphia Phillies
' farm system, with a ten-game
, 23-at bat
Major League
trial for the 1961 Phillies
. He batted and threw right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg) as an active player.
In , Kenders started four games at catcher for the Phillies in 1961 after a mid-season recall from the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
. In his second game, he recorded his first MLB hit
, a single
off pitcher
Jack Curtis
of the Chicago Cubs
. He would notch only three more hits during his Major League service, with the only extra-base blow, a double
, coming off future Baseball Hall of Fame southpaw
Warren Spahn
on August 20, 1961.
He batted
.259 with 33 home runs in 655 minor league
games.
Barrington, New Jersey
Barrington is a Borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 6,983.Barrington was incorporated as a borough on March 27, 1917, from portions of the now-defunct Centre Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. A catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, he played for eight seasons (1956–1963) in the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
' farm system, with a ten-game
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, 23-at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
trial for the 1961 Phillies
1961 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season was the 69th in franchise history. The Phillies finished the season in last place in the National League at 47-107, 46 games behind the NL Champion Cincinnati Reds...
. He batted and threw right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg) as an active player.
In , Kenders started four games at catcher for the Phillies in 1961 after a mid-season recall from the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
. In his second game, he recorded his first MLB hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
off pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Jack Curtis
Jack Curtis (baseball)
Jack Patrick Curtis is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for three seasons. He played for the Chicago Cubs from 1961 to 1962, the Milwaukee Braves in 1962, and the Cleveland Indians in 1963....
of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. He would notch only three more hits during his Major League service, with the only extra-base blow, a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, coming off future Baseball Hall of Fame southpaw
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
Warren Spahn
Warren Spahn
Warren Edward Spahn was an American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career in the National League. He won 20 games each in 13 seasons, including a 23-7 record when he was age 42...
on August 20, 1961.
He batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.259 with 33 home runs in 655 minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
games.