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The Kelly's Killers were a Major League
baseball team that played in Cincinnati, Ohio during the 1891 baseball season. The team played in the American Association
, which was a major league from 1882 to 1891.
in the National League
. This in addition to variants on the informal name "Kelly's Killers". It is the latter name, however, by which they are more broadly known today.
had left when the club vacated the league after the 1889 season and again before the 1891 season. The Reds played in the National League
for the 1890 season but was losing money and facing bankruptcy. Reds' ownership sold the club to Players League
investor Albert Johnson. Johnson then withdrew his newly acquired Reds club and moved them to the Players League for the 1891 season. After the Players League collapsed, Johnson then committed the Reds to the American Association.
Meanwhile the National League placed a new franchise in Cincinnati which was to be owned by John T. Brush
. However, for reasons that are still unknown, Johnson decided to sell his Reds club back to the National League before the start of the season. The National League simply let Brush take control over the Reds as if they never left the league in the first place.
, who also owned the St. Louis Browns
. His new Cincinnati club would be captained by super star player Mike Kelly
, whose major league career began in Cincinnati with the original National League Reds club of the 1870s.
by the media.
The location of the park was just off Eastern Avenue (now called Riverside Drive), where the Schmidt Recreation Complex is currently located. Many fans attending the games were dropped off by steamboat, coming either from the city or from Coney Island. East End Park was one of only a handful of major league parks to have access by way of a river.
As the season progressed, Mike Kelly and his killers found themselves in jail frequently as a result of attempting to play baseball on Sundays. At the time, the National League did not allow Sunday baseball games to be played. As a result the rival Association capitalized on this by having their teams play Sunday games. The problem for Cincinnati was that the city had the blue law
in place which also disallowed Sunday games. Owners of the club made repeated attempts at playing games on Sundays. Sometimes the Mayor of Cincinnati, Mayor John B. Mosby, would enforce the law and other times he would not. When the Mayor did enforce the law, the Killers and the players from the opposing team found themselves in jail.
As the season wore on the club lagged in the standings and were never true contenders. By August the club was 21 games out of first place and losing money.
, of the Western League stepped in and played out the Kel's remaining games. Frank Dwyer, Willie Mains, Farmer Vaughn and Jim Canavan all signed on to play for the Milwaukee club. Kelly returned to play for the Boston Reds for four games before jumping back to the National League's Boston Beaneaters.
Unfortunately the 1891 season would be the Association's final year. The circuit merged with the National League, transferring St. Louis, Louisville, Washington and Baltimore to the senior circuit while paying the other teams to disband.
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...
baseball team that played in Cincinnati, Ohio during the 1891 baseball season. The team played in the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
, which was a major league from 1882 to 1891.
The team nickname
By contemporary newspaper accounts, the club was mainly referred to as the Cincinnati Reds, the same name as their cross-town rivalsCincinnati 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....
in 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...
. This in addition to variants on the informal name "Kelly's Killers". It is the latter name, however, by which they are more broadly known today.
A tale of three leagues
The Cincinnati Kelly's Killers were a response by the American Association to fill the void that the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati 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....
had left when the club vacated the league after the 1889 season and again before the 1891 season. The Reds played in 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...
for the 1890 season but was losing money and facing bankruptcy. Reds' ownership sold the club to Players League
Players League
The Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League , was a short-lived but star-studded professional American baseball league of the 19th century...
investor Albert Johnson. Johnson then withdrew his newly acquired Reds club and moved them to the Players League for the 1891 season. After the Players League collapsed, Johnson then committed the Reds to the American Association.
Meanwhile the National League placed a new franchise in Cincinnati which was to be owned by John T. Brush
John T. Brush
John Tomlinson Brush was an American sports executive who was the owner of the New York Giants franchise in Major League Baseball from 1890 until his death. He also owned the Indianapolis Hoosiers in the late 1880s, and the Cincinnati Reds from 1891 to 1902. Under his leadership, the Giants were...
. However, for reasons that are still unknown, Johnson decided to sell his Reds club back to the National League before the start of the season. The National League simply let Brush take control over the Reds as if they never left the league in the first place.
Here comes Kelly's "killers"
The Association was crushed when the Reds left the league for a second time but maintained that Cincinnati was an Association city. The league placed a new franchise in the Queen City to fill the void that the Reds were to occupy. The new Association club would be owned by Chris von der AheChris von der Ahe
Christian Friedrich Wilhelm von der Ahe was a German-American entrepreneur, best known as the owner of the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the American Association, now known as the St. Louis Cardinals....
, who also owned the 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...
. His new Cincinnati club would be captained by super star player Mike Kelly
King Kelly
Michael Joseph "King" Kelly was an American right fielder, catcher, and manager in various professional American baseball leagues including the National League, International Association, Players' League, and the American Association. He spent the majority of his 16-season playing career with the...
, whose major league career began in Cincinnati with the original National League Reds club of the 1870s.
The ballyard
The new Association club was in need of a ballpark. Vacant lots within the city were few and far between so ownership decided to build a ballpark in a picturesque location along the Ohio River that was known as Pendleton Park or Pendleton Grounds. The club secured a lease and built a small ballpark within Pendleton Park, which was dubbed East End ParkEast End Park (Cincinnati)
East End Park is a former major league baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The ballpark, which is also known to baseball historians as Pendleton Park, was home to the Cincinnati Reds of the American Association during the 1891 baseball season...
by the media.
The location of the park was just off Eastern Avenue (now called Riverside Drive), where the Schmidt Recreation Complex is currently located. Many fans attending the games were dropped off by steamboat, coming either from the city or from Coney Island. East End Park was one of only a handful of major league parks to have access by way of a river.
The season
The club got off to a terrible start and many of Mike Kelly's killers were taking with the flu. Delays in the construction of their ballpark also left the club on the road for most of April. By the time Cincinnati played their first home game (April 25) Mike Kelly's men were 5-9.As the season progressed, Mike Kelly and his killers found themselves in jail frequently as a result of attempting to play baseball on Sundays. At the time, the National League did not allow Sunday baseball games to be played. As a result the rival Association capitalized on this by having their teams play Sunday games. The problem for Cincinnati was that the city had the blue law
Blue law
A blue law is a type of law, typically found in the United States and, formerly, in Canada, designed to enforce religious standards, particularly the observance of Sunday as a day of worship or rest, and a restriction on Sunday shopping...
in place which also disallowed Sunday games. Owners of the club made repeated attempts at playing games on Sundays. Sometimes the Mayor of Cincinnati, Mayor John B. Mosby, would enforce the law and other times he would not. When the Mayor did enforce the law, the Killers and the players from the opposing team found themselves in jail.
As the season wore on the club lagged in the standings and were never true contenders. By August the club was 21 games out of first place and losing money.
The demise
The inconvenient location of the club's ballpark, poor play on the field and the fact that they were competing for spectators with the Reds hurt the Kelly's Killers' attendance. By mid-August, it was decided by league leaders and club ownership to suspend the franchise for the remainder of the 1891 season and reactivate the club for the 1892 season in a brand new ballpark on the west side of town. With 34 games remaining on their schedule, the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers (AA)
The 1891 Milwaukee Brewers were an American professional baseball team and a member of the minor league Western Association and Western League and the major league American Association. They were managed by Charlie Cushman and finished their major league stint with a record of 21-15...
, of the Western League stepped in and played out the Kel's remaining games. Frank Dwyer, Willie Mains, Farmer Vaughn and Jim Canavan all signed on to play for the Milwaukee club. Kelly returned to play for the Boston Reds for four games before jumping back to the National League's Boston Beaneaters.
Unfortunately the 1891 season would be the Association's final year. The circuit merged with the National League, transferring St. Louis, Louisville, Washington and Baltimore to the senior circuit while paying the other teams to disband.
See also
- 1891 Cincinnati Kelly's Killers season1891 Cincinnati Kelly's Killers seasonThe Cincinnati Kelly's Killers season was a season in American baseball. The "Kelly" in the name came from manager King Kelly, who was also the team's starting catcher...
- Cincinnati Kelly's Killers all-time rosterCincinnati Kelly's Killers all-time rosterThe Cincinnati Kelly's Killers were a Major League Baseball franchise based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team existed for one season, , and played in the American Association . The team played their home games at East End Park....