Bob Keely
Encyclopedia
Robert William Keely was an American
coach
in Major League Baseball
for 12 seasons with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves
. Born in St. Louis, Missouri
, Keely stood 6' (183 cm) tall, weighed 175 pounds (79 kg), and threw and batted right-handed.
Keely played one season of professional baseball, 1937, with the Union City Greyhounds
of the Class D KITTY League, but was a longtime semiprofessional catcher with the Belleville Stags
. During World War II
, he joined the St. Louis Cardinals
as the club's bullpen
catcher — an extra hand who caught relief pitcher
s and batting practice. He was activated for one game in 1944
and one game in 1945
, going hitless in one at bat
and handling two chances as a catcher
without an error.
Keely formally became a major-league coach when he joined manager
Billy Southworth
in moving from the Cardinals to the Braves in 1946
. He was the Braves' bullpen coach
through the 1957
season, serving in both Boston and Milwaukee
and under four different managers. He worked on the 1948 NL champions
and the 1957 world champions
with the club.
After leaving the Braves, Keely was a scout for the Cardinals through the mid-1970s. He died at age 91 in Sarasota, Florida
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
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...
for 12 seasons with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. Born in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Keely stood 6' (183 cm) tall, weighed 175 pounds (79 kg), and threw and batted right-handed.
Keely played one season of professional baseball, 1937, with the Union City Greyhounds
Union City Greyhounds
The Union City Greyhounds were a summer collegiate baseball team based in Union City, Tennessee. The team, which played in the KIT League played its home games in Elam Stadium at LH Ladd Field, located in Union City, Tennessee....
of the Class D KITTY League, but was a longtime semiprofessional catcher with the Belleville Stags
Belleville, Illinois
Belleville is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 44,478. It is the eighth-most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most populated city south of Springfield in the state of Illinois. It is the county...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he joined the St. Louis Cardinals
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...
as the club's bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
catcher — an extra hand who caught relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
s and batting practice. He was activated for one game in 1944
1944 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over St. Louis Browns , in the "Streetcar Series"*All-Star Game, July 11 at Forbes Field: National League, 7-1-Other champions:...
and one game in 1945
1945 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Detroit Tigers over Chicago Cubs *All-Star Game cancelled due to flight restrictions. However, inter-league games were played during the All-Star break.-Other champions:...
, going hitless in one 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...
and handling two chances as 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...
without an error.
Keely formally became a major-league coach when he joined manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Billy Southworth
Billy Southworth
William Harrison Southworth was an American right fielder, center fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Playing in and and from to , he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Southworth managed in and from through...
in moving from the Cardinals to the Braves in 1946
1946 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox *All-Star Game, July 9 at Fenway Park: American League, 12–0-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Newark Eagles over Kansas City Monarchs...
. He was the Braves' bullpen coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
through the 1957
1957 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Milwaukee Braves over New York Yankees ; Lew Burdette, MVP*All-Star Game, July 9 at Busch Stadium: American League, 6-5-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Marianao *College World Series: California...
season, serving in both Boston and Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and under four different managers. He worked on the 1948 NL champions
1948 Boston Braves season
- Offseason :* October 28, 1947: Hoyt Wilhelm was purchased by the Braves from the Mooresville Moores....
and the 1957 world champions
1957 World Series
The 1957 World Series featured the defending champions, the New York Yankees , playing against the Milwaukee Braves . After finishing just one game behind the N.L. Champion Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, the Braves came back in 1957 to win their first pennant since moving from Boston in 1953...
with the club.
After leaving the Braves, Keely was a scout for the Cardinals through the mid-1970s. He died at age 91 in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
.