Kick Kelly
Encyclopedia
John O. "Kick" Kelly also nicknamed "Honest John" and "Diamond John," was an American
catcher
, manager
and umpire
in Major League Baseball
who went on to become a boxing
referee
and to run gambling houses in his native New York City
. He made a notable impact on the development of umpiring, helping to pioneer the use of multiple umpires in games in the 1880s. By the time he initially retired in , he held the record for most games umpired in the major leagues (587); he returned to work the last two months of the season.
in , split between two teams, the Syracuse Stars
, for which he played in ten games
, eight of them at catcher, and then another six games with the Troy Trojans. He played in 16 total games, had a .155 batting average
, and scored five runs
.
. He began in the NL in , working 51 games, but then jumped to the American Association from to . He returned to the NL in 1888. The early years of the major leagues were particularly hard on umpires, with hostile crowds and vicious arguments, in addition to the difficulty of constantly working games single-handedly. Few officials lasted more than two or three seasons, and by the end of the campaign Kelly had passed Billy McLean
's total of 317 major league games as an umpire.
Among the highlights of his officiating career, he called two no-hitter
s. The first game came on September 20, when he called ball and strikes for the Chicago White Stockings
star pitcher Larry Corcoran
, who tossed his second of three career no-hitters, and on September 18, when future Hall of Famer Cy Young
threw his first of his three career no-hitters.
Kelly's record of 587 career games as an umpire was broken by Bob Ferguson in . He finished his umpiring career in 1897, after eight seasons and 626 games. At one point in his career, he departed to enjoy a short run as manager of the Louisville Colonels
in and 1888. Following the 1887 season, Kelly and NL official John Gaffney
officiated the 15-game World's Championship Series between the NL champion Detroit Wolverines
and the AA champion St. Louis Browns
. They devised a new system whereby one umpire would call balls and strikes behind the plate, while the other would make calls on the basepaths. The system was regarded as a great improvement over the 1886 attempt at the use of multiple umpires, in which two umpires were stationed behind the plate, with a third official – stationed behind the pitcher – who was allowed to intervene only to settle disagreements between the other two. In 1946, Kelly was one of 11 umpires named by the Baseball Hall of Fame
to a Roll of Honor
.
fired Kelly and put himself at the helm in an attempt to stop the losing streak of which his team was in the middle. He and John Kerins
didn't help that much, as the team finished in seventh place.
's only successful defense of his heavyweight title against Charley Mitchell on January 25, 1894 in Jacksonville, Florida
. In the second round, after Mitchell had begun the fight with constant slurs directed at Corbett, the champion landed a blow to Mitchell's head after he had been knocked to the mat. Mitchell's corner called for a foul, but the presence of numerous spectators brandishing guns and eager to defend their bets led Kelly to dismiss the complaint; he later confided that he had been lucky to leave Jacksonville alive. He also called the heavyweight fight between Corbett and Tom Sharkey
on November 22, 1898 in New York, which ended in controversy when one of Corbett's cornermen jumped into the ring in the ninth round. Kelly announced that although Corbett had lost the fight on the foul, all bets were off. On July 3, 1899 in Buffalo, New York
, Kelly refereed the bout in which Frank Erne won a 20-round decision to take the world lightweight title from Kid Lavigne
.
Kelly died in Malba, Queens
at the age of 69, and is interred at the Calvary Cemetery
in Woodside, New York.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
, 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...
and umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
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 went on to become a boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
referee
Referee (boxing)
The referee in the boxing is the individual charged with enforcing the rules of that sport during a match.-The role of the referee:Referees have the following roles:*Gives instructions to both boxers before the fight...
and to run gambling houses in his native New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He made a notable impact on the development of umpiring, helping to pioneer the use of multiple umpires in games in the 1880s. By the time he initially retired in , he held the record for most games umpired in the major leagues (587); he returned to work the last two months of the season.
Playing career
Kelly played just one season in the National LeagueNational 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...
in , split between two teams, the Syracuse Stars
Syracuse Stars (National League)
The Syracuse Stars was an American baseball team 19th century, as well as the name of the minor league baseball teams which preceded it, based in Syracuse, New York. They played their home games at Newell Park...
, for which he played in ten games
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,...
, eight of them at catcher, and then another six games with the Troy Trojans. He played in 16 total games, had a .155 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, and scored five 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...
.
Umpiring career
After his playing days were over, Kelly became an umpire, working games in both the National League and the American AssociationAmerican 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...
. He began in the NL in , working 51 games, but then jumped to the American Association from to . He returned to the NL in 1888. The early years of the major leagues were particularly hard on umpires, with hostile crowds and vicious arguments, in addition to the difficulty of constantly working games single-handedly. Few officials lasted more than two or three seasons, and by the end of the campaign Kelly had passed Billy McLean
Billy McLean
William H. McLean was an English professional baseball umpire born in Preston, Lancashire, England. He umpired games in both the National Association from 1872 until 1875, then the National League when the Association folded...
's total of 317 major league games as an umpire.
Among the highlights of his officiating career, he called two no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s. The first game came on September 20, when he called ball and strikes for the Chicago White Stockings
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
star pitcher Larry Corcoran
Larry Corcoran
Lawrence J. Corcoran was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was born in Brooklyn, New York.Corcoran debuted in 1880, winning 43 games and leading the Chicago team to the National League championship...
, who tossed his second of three career no-hitters, and on September 18, when future Hall of Famer Cy Young
Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his 22-year baseball career , he pitched for five different teams. Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937...
threw his first of his three career no-hitters.
Kelly's record of 587 career games as an umpire was broken by Bob Ferguson in . He finished his umpiring career in 1897, after eight seasons and 626 games. At one point in his career, he departed to enjoy a short run as manager of the 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...
in and 1888. Following the 1887 season, Kelly and NL official John Gaffney
John Gaffney
John H. Gaffney , nicknamed the "King of Umpires" and "Honest John", was an American umpire and manager in Major League Baseball. He was baseball's first great umpire, and played a pioneering role in the use of multiple umpires in baseball games.Born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, Gaffney's family...
officiated the 15-game World's Championship Series between the NL champion Detroit Wolverines
Detroit Wolverines
The Detroit Wolverines were a 19th century baseball team that played in the National League from 1881 to 1888 in the city of Detroit, Michigan. In total, they won 426 games and lost 437, taking their lone pennant in 1887. The team was disbanded following the 1888 season.-Franchise...
and the AA champion 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...
. They devised a new system whereby one umpire would call balls and strikes behind the plate, while the other would make calls on the basepaths. The system was regarded as a great improvement over the 1886 attempt at the use of multiple umpires, in which two umpires were stationed behind the plate, with a third official – stationed behind the pitcher – who was allowed to intervene only to settle disagreements between the other two. In 1946, Kelly was one of 11 umpires named by the Baseball Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
to a Roll of Honor
Honor Rolls of Baseball
The Honor Rolls of Baseball were established in 1946 by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's Permanent Committee to establish as a second level of induction designed to recognize non-playing contributors. The committee designed the Honor Rolls to commemorate managers, executives, umpires...
.
Managerial career
Kick Kelly began his managerial career in 1887 when he took over the field duties for the Colonels. He managed the entire season, and the team compiled a 76-60 record, which was good for fourth place in the American Association. He then began the 1888 season as their manager, but the team started with a record of 10-29, and owner/general manager Mordecai DavidsonMordecai Davidson
Mordecai Hamilton Davidson was a Major League Baseball owner and manager. He is best known as the primary owner of the Major League Baseball Louisville Colonels during the worst period of the team's history...
fired Kelly and put himself at the helm in an attempt to stop the losing streak of which his team was in the middle. He and John Kerins
John Kerins
John Nelson Kerins was an American Major League Baseball player born in Indianapolis, Indiana, who played mainly at first base, but played significant time at catcher. John began his major league career with the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the American Association...
didn't help that much, as the team finished in seventh place.
Boxing career
Kelly became a championship boxing referee, officiating Jim CorbettJames J. Corbett
James John "Gentleman Jim" Corbett was an Irish-American heavyweight boxing champion, best known as the man who defeated the great John L. Sullivan. He also coached boxing at the Olympic Club in San Francisco...
's only successful defense of his heavyweight title against Charley Mitchell on January 25, 1894 in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. In the second round, after Mitchell had begun the fight with constant slurs directed at Corbett, the champion landed a blow to Mitchell's head after he had been knocked to the mat. Mitchell's corner called for a foul, but the presence of numerous spectators brandishing guns and eager to defend their bets led Kelly to dismiss the complaint; he later confided that he had been lucky to leave Jacksonville alive. He also called the heavyweight fight between Corbett and Tom Sharkey
Tom Sharkey
Tom 'Sailor Tom' Sharkey was a boxer who fought two fights with heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries. Sharkey's recorded ring career spanned from 1893 to 1904. He is credited with having won 40 fights , 7 losses, and 5 draws...
on November 22, 1898 in New York, which ended in controversy when one of Corbett's cornermen jumped into the ring in the ninth round. Kelly announced that although Corbett had lost the fight on the foul, all bets were off. On July 3, 1899 in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, Kelly refereed the bout in which Frank Erne won a 20-round decision to take the world lightweight title from Kid Lavigne
Kid Lavigne
George Henry "Kid" Lavigne was an American boxer from Michigan. He was the second American boxer to hold the lightweight champion, winning the title on June 1, 1896.-Pro career:...
.
Kelly died in Malba, Queens
Malba, Queens
Malba is an upper middle-class neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. A small area on the waterfront home to some of the largest and most expensive private houses in New York City, Malba is bounded to the north by the East River, to the east by the Whitestone Expressway, to the south...
at the age of 69, and is interred at the Calvary Cemetery
Calvary Cemetery, Queens
The Roman Catholic Calvary Cemetery in Queens has the largest number of interments of any cemetery in the United States.The offices of Calvary Cemetery are located at 49-02 Laurel Hill Blvd. in Woodside in the New York City borough of Queens, New York. The cemetery is managed by the Trustees of...
in Woodside, New York.