Bill Kuehne
Encyclopedia
William J. Kuehne [b. William J. Knelme] (October 24, 1858 - October 27, 1921) was an infielder
in Major League Baseball
who played from 1883
through 1892
for the Columbus Buckeyes
(1883-84), Pittsburg Alleghenys
(1885-89), Pittsburgh Burghers
(1890), Columbus Solons
(1891), Louisville Colonels
(1891-92), St. Louis Browns
(1892) and Cincinnati Reds
(1892). Listed at 5' 8", 185 lb., Kuehne batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Leipzig, Germany.
Basically a third baseman
, Kuehne was able to play all positions but pitcher
and catcher
. He enjoyed his best years with the Pittsburgh teams, hitting .299 in 1887 as he led the National League
with 138 games played
in 1888. From 1883-88 he averaged 15.33 triples
per season, with a career-high 19 in 1895. Then, in 1892, he played for the Colonels, Browns and Reds during the regular season. Technically, that's three clubs, but he did have two separate stints with the Browns, becoming one of few major leaguers to achieve this rare distinction.
In a 10-season career, Kuehne was a .232 hitter (996-for-4284) with 25 home run
s and 404 RBI
in 1087 games, including 536 runs
, 145 doubles
, 115 triples, and 151 stolen base
s.
After his long career, Kuehne retired to pursue his long-time hobby of archaeology
, working periodically in Cultural Resource Management under the pseudonym "P.Webb" in North Carolina
for several years before returning to his hometown. Kuehne died in Sulphur Springs, Ohio
, three days after his 63rd birthday.
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
in Major League Baseball
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...
who played from 1883
1883 in baseball
-Champions:*National League: Boston Beaneaters*American Association: Philadelphia Athletics*Inter-State League: Brooklyn Atlantics*Northwestern League: Toledo Blue StockingsInter-league playoff: Philadelphia declined to play Boston...
through 1892
1892 in baseball
-Champions:*National League: Boston Beaneaters defeated Cleveland Spiders, 5 games to 0 - First half of season :-Second half of season:-Overall record:-Events:...
for the Columbus Buckeyes
Columbus Buckeyes (AA)
The Columbus Buckeyes were a baseball team in the American Association from 1883 to 1884. In two seasons they won 101 games and lost 104 for a winning percentage of .493. Their home games were played at Recreation Park in Columbus, Ohio....
(1883-84), Pittsburg Alleghenys
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1885-89), Pittsburgh Burghers
Pittsburgh Burghers
The Pittsburgh Burghers were a baseball team in the Players' League, a short-lived Major League that existed only for the 1890 season. The team included a number of players who had jumped from the National League's Pittsburgh Alleghenys , including Hall of Famers Pud Galvin, Ned Hanlon, and Jake...
(1890), Columbus Solons
Columbus Solons
The Columbus Solons were a baseball team in the American Association from 1889 to 1891. In three seasons, they won 200 games and lost 209 for a winning percentage of .489. Their home games were played at Recreation Park in Columbus, Ohio....
(1891), Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
(1891-92), St. Louis Browns
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1892) and 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....
(1892). Listed at 5' 8", 185 lb., Kuehne batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Leipzig, Germany.
Basically a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, Kuehne was able to play all positions but 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...
and 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 enjoyed his best years with the Pittsburgh teams, hitting .299 in 1887 as he led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
with 138 games played
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,...
in 1888. From 1883-88 he averaged 15.33 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
per season, with a career-high 19 in 1895. Then, in 1892, he played for the Colonels, Browns and Reds during the regular season. Technically, that's three clubs, but he did have two separate stints with the Browns, becoming one of few major leaguers to achieve this rare distinction.
In a 10-season career, Kuehne was a .232 hitter (996-for-4284) with 25 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 404 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 1087 games, including 536 runs
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...
, 145 doubles
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....
, 115 triples, and 151 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s.
After his long career, Kuehne retired to pursue his long-time hobby of archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
, working periodically in Cultural Resource Management under the pseudonym "P.Webb" in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
for several years before returning to his hometown. Kuehne died in Sulphur Springs, Ohio
Sulphur Springs, Ohio
Sulphur Springs is an unincorporated community in eastern Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 44881. Also, there is a volunteer fire station, a closed school, and a pheasant farm. It is located along...
, three days after his 63rd birthday.
See also
- MLB players with 100 triples
- List of players from Germany in Major League Baseball