Ed Kinsella
Encyclopedia
Edward William "Rube" Kinsella (January 15, 1880 – January 17, 1976) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
and St. Louis Browns
. He stood at 6' 1" and weighed 175 lbs.
, and attended Illinois State University
. He pitched for the school's baseball team. He then started his professional baseball career in 1904 with the Bloomington Bloomers
of the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League. During his second season, he went 17–14 on the mound and was then purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kinsella made his major league debut in September and pitched 17 innings for the National League
club during the final month of the campaign. He was the first player to make the major leagues from Illinois State University. In 1905, Kinsella was fired from his offseason job as a machinist
when he took a day off to watch a baseball game.
Kinsella was purchased by Toledo of the American Association
in December. The following March, the Toledo News-Bee
reported that he was a "most likely looking young fellow." However, Kinsella did not pitch for Toledo that year, instead going to the Springfield Senators.
In 1906, Kinsella joined the Pacific Coast League
's Portland Beavers
. He made an immediate impact, winning 21 games with a 2.29 earned run average
and leading the team in both categories. The following season, he pitched well again; he won 23 games and set a career-high with 380.2 innings pitched
in the long Pacific Coast League schedule. Kinsella then went to the Northwestern League
's Portland Colts
for 1909. He won over 20 games for the third straight season and went 23–10.
Kinsella was purchased by the St. Louis Browns in August 1909 and had his second stint in the majors in 1910. In April, the Telegraph Herald
reported that, "All who have seen Kinsella have been impressed by his work. Even the players bank on the big fellow when he goes to the mound..." Despite this praise, Kinsella appeared in just 10 games for the Browns. He went 1–3 with a below-average ERA, and he played his last major league game on August 10. The following season, he went back to the minors with the Western League
's Denver Grizzlies and pitched for a pennant-winning team. The 1911 Grizzlies have been called the 22nd greatest minor league team of all-time.
In 1912, Kinsella went 22–11 for Denver. He moved up to the Pacific Coast League in 1913 but struggled and played part of 1914 in the Class D Central Association
. That was his last year in organized baseball.
Kinsella finished his career with 144 minor league victories in 10 seasons but had only one major league win. He died in Bloomington, Illinois
, at the age of 96.
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...
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 the Pittsburgh Pirates
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...
and St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. He stood at 6' 1" and weighed 175 lbs.
Career
Kinsella was born in Lexington, IllinoisLexington, Illinois
Lexington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,060 at the 2010 census. There are two theories of its name. One says it was named for the Battle of Lexington, where General Gridley's father fought...
, and attended Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
. He pitched for the school's baseball team. He then started his professional baseball career in 1904 with the Bloomington Bloomers
Bloomington Bloomers
The Bloomington Bloomers were an Illinois-Iowa-Indiana League team based in Bloomington, Illinois that existed on-and-off from 1903 to 1939. In 1935, they were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals, and in 1939 they were affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers...
of the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League. During his second season, he went 17–14 on the mound and was then purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kinsella made his major league debut in September and pitched 17 innings for 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...
club during the final month of the campaign. He was the first player to make the major leagues from Illinois State University. In 1905, Kinsella was fired from his offseason job as a machinist
Machinist
A machinist is a person who uses machine tools to make or modify parts, primarily metal parts, a process known as machining. This is accomplished by using machine tools to cut away excess material much as a woodcarver cuts away excess wood to produce his work. In addition to metal, the parts may...
when he took a day off to watch a baseball game.
Kinsella was purchased by Toledo 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...
in December. The following March, the Toledo News-Bee
Toledo News-Bee
The Toledo News Bee is a defunct newspaper that served Toledo, Ohio and much of northwestern Ohio in the early part of the 20th century. It was formed from the 1903 merger of The Toledo News andThe Toledo Bee, and was published until August 2, 1938, when it was purchased by The Toledo Blade for...
reported that he was a "most likely looking young fellow." However, Kinsella did not pitch for Toledo that year, instead going to the Springfield Senators.
In 1906, Kinsella joined the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
's Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
. He made an immediate impact, winning 21 games with a 2.29 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and leading the team in both categories. The following season, he pitched well again; he won 23 games and set a career-high with 380.2 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
in the long Pacific Coast League schedule. Kinsella then went to the Northwestern League
Northwestern League
The Northwestern League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1883–1884, and again from 1886-1887. It was founded by Elias Matter in 1883.-1883-1884:...
's Portland Colts
Portland Colts
The Portland Colts were a Minor League Baseball team based in Portland, Oregon. They were a part of the Northwestern League and in they were known as the Portland Pippins. The served as a farm team for the Portland Beavers in the 1910s...
for 1909. He won over 20 games for the third straight season and went 23–10.
Kinsella was purchased by the St. Louis Browns in August 1909 and had his second stint in the majors in 1910. In April, the Telegraph Herald
Telegraph Herald
The Telegraph Herald, locally referred to as the TH, is a daily newspaper published in Dubuque, Iowa for the population of Dubuque and surrounding areas in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin...
reported that, "All who have seen Kinsella have been impressed by his work. Even the players bank on the big fellow when he goes to the mound..." Despite this praise, Kinsella appeared in just 10 games for the Browns. He went 1–3 with a below-average ERA, and he played his last major league game on August 10. The following season, he went back to the minors with the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
's Denver Grizzlies and pitched for a pennant-winning team. The 1911 Grizzlies have been called the 22nd greatest minor league team of all-time.
In 1912, Kinsella went 22–11 for Denver. He moved up to the Pacific Coast League in 1913 but struggled and played part of 1914 in the Class D Central Association
Central Association
The Central Association was an American minor league baseball league. It began operations in 1908, and ran continuously through 1917.-1908:The teams from Burlington, Iowa, Jacksonville, Illinois, Keokuk, Iowa, Oskaloosa, Iowa, Ottumwa, Iowa, Quincy, Illinois, and Waterloo, Iowa joined after having...
. That was his last year in organized baseball.
Kinsella finished his career with 144 minor league victories in 10 seasons but had only one major league win. He died in Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
, at the age of 96.