Andy Kyle
Encyclopedia
Andrew Ewing Kyle was a Canadian Major League Baseball
outfielder
and a National Hockey Association
defenceman. He was the first person to play both baseball and ice hockey professionally.
Kittens of the Northern Association in May and then, when that league folded, to the Lawrence
Colts of the New England League
in July. Kyle rejoined the Leafs in September. In 1911, he played for Troy in the New York State League but was released in May. Kyle then joined the London Tecumsehs
in the Canadian League. The following season, he played for the Columbus Senators
of the American Association
and for the Akron Rubbermen of the Central League.
Kyle was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds
, playing in his first major league game on September 7, 1912 and his last on October 6, 1912. He appeared in nine games and hit .333 (7-for-21) with four runs batted in and three runs scored
. He drew four walks which pushed his on base percentage
up to .440. In seven outfield
appearances he handled 16 chances
without an error
. The 22-year-old stood 5'8" and weighed 160 lbs.
After his brief major league stint, Kyle played for the New Orleans Pelicans
of the Southern Association
in 1913, where his batting average fell to .194. He continued to play on and off in the minors until 1921, spending his last three seasons with the Kitchener Beavers
of the Michigan-Ontario League
.
in the 1908–09 season. He was team captain and led the Eurekas to the Ontario Hockey Association
finals, where they lost to Stratford. In September 1909, he announced that he was giving up hockey to become a full-time silver prospector in Northern Ontario, but returned after seven weeks. He was captain of the Parkdale Canoe Club senior team for the 1909–10 season until leaving to join the Maple Leafs' baseball training camp. Kyle played with the professional team in Port Hope, Ontario
for the 1910–11 season and worked as a referee following an injury. He continued as a referee in 1912. He attended the inaugural training camp of the Toronto Blueshirts
in 1912, but left the team before the season began to play for Moncton Victorias of the MPHA. He played there for two seasons. He was captain of the team in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
early in the 1914–15 season. Kyle rejoined the Blueshirts in the National Hockey Association
for the 1916–17 season.
Kyle died in his hometown of Toronto
at the age of 81, and he is buried at Park Lawn Cemetery
.
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and a National Hockey Association
National Hockey Association
The National Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. It is the direct predecessor organization to today's National Hockey League...
defenceman. He was the first person to play both baseball and ice hockey professionally.
Baseball
In baseball, Kyle turned professional with the Class A Toronto Maple Leafs in 1910. He didn't get much playing time and was sent to the ElginElgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
Kittens of the Northern Association in May and then, when that league folded, to the Lawrence
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States on the Merrimack River. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 76,377. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. It and Salem are...
Colts of the New England League
New England League
The New England League was a mid-level league in American minor league baseball that played sporadically in five of the six New England states between 1886 and 1949. After 1901, it existed in the shadow of two Major League Baseball clubs in Boston and alongside stronger, higher-classification...
in July. Kyle rejoined the Leafs in September. In 1911, he played for Troy in the New York State League but was released in May. Kyle then joined the London Tecumsehs
London Tecumsehs
The historic London Tecumsehs were a professional men's baseball team in London, Ontario, Canada, that were first formed in 1868 — a merger of the Forest City Base Ball Club and the London Base Ball Club — which, according to George Railton's 1856 London directory, consisted of officers J.K. Brown,...
in the Canadian League. The following season, he played for the Columbus Senators
Columbus Senators
The Columbus Senators Minor league baseball team was born in as a founding member of the Tri-State League. After that, the Senators played in the Western League , Interstate League Western Association and American Association...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
and for the Akron Rubbermen of the Central League.
Kyle was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, playing in his first major league game on September 7, 1912 and his last on October 6, 1912. He appeared in nine games and hit .333 (7-for-21) with four runs batted in and three runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. He drew four walks which pushed his on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
up to .440. In seven outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
appearances he handled 16 chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
without an error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
. The 22-year-old stood 5'8" and weighed 160 lbs.
After his brief major league stint, Kyle played for the New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans were a Minor league professional baseball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana.-Team history:Founded in 1887, the Pelicans became part of the Southern Association in 1901...
of the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
in 1913, where his batting average fell to .194. He continued to play on and off in the minors until 1921, spending his last three seasons with the Kitchener Beavers
Kitchener Beavers
The Kitchener Beavers were a Canadian professional ice hockey team in Kitchener, Ontario. They played in the Eastern Professional Hockey League from 1960-1962.-Results:-External links:*...
of the Michigan-Ontario League
Michigan-Ontario League
Michigan State League was the name of an American professional baseball league. It operated seven full seasons and part of an eighth from 1919 to 1926....
.
Hockey
As a hockey player, Kyle played junior with the Eurekas in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in the 1908–09 season. He was team captain and led the Eurekas to the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
finals, where they lost to Stratford. In September 1909, he announced that he was giving up hockey to become a full-time silver prospector in Northern Ontario, but returned after seven weeks. He was captain of the Parkdale Canoe Club senior team for the 1909–10 season until leaving to join the Maple Leafs' baseball training camp. Kyle played with the professional team in Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
for the 1910–11 season and worked as a referee following an injury. He continued as a referee in 1912. He attended the inaugural training camp of the Toronto Blueshirts
Toronto Blueshirts
The Toronto Hockey Club, known as the Torontos and the Toronto Blue Shirts were a professional National Hockey Association team that played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
in 1912, but left the team before the season began to play for Moncton Victorias of the MPHA. He played there for two seasons. He was captain of the team in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
Glace Bay is a community in the eastern part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada. It forms part of the general area referred to as Industrial Cape Breton....
early in the 1914–15 season. Kyle rejoined the Blueshirts in the National Hockey Association
National Hockey Association
The National Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. It is the direct predecessor organization to today's National Hockey League...
for the 1916–17 season.
Kyle died in his hometown of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
at the age of 81, and he is buried at Park Lawn Cemetery
Park Lawn Cemetery
Park Lawn Cemetery is a large cemetery in the western Etobicoke section of Toronto, Canada. It currently has some 22,000 graves. It is managed by the Park Lawn Income Trust, which also runs five other cemeteries in Toronto. Controversy arose in 1995 when the company had re-zoned a section of the...
.