Mick Kelleher
Encyclopedia
Michael Dennis Kelleher (born July 25, 1947, in Seattle, Washington
) is the first base coach for the New York Yankees
. He succeeded Tony Peña
, who became the bench coach.
In 11 seasons, Kelleher was an infielder
for the St. Louis Cardinals
(1972–73 and 1975), Houston Astros
(1974), Chicago Cubs
(1976–80), Detroit Tigers
(1981–82) and California Angels
(1982). He was a member of the 1982 AL Western Division Champions, playing mostly shortstop
and hitting .163 in 49 at bats. He did not appear in the playoffs. Playing in 622 games, Kelleher recorded a career .213 batting average in 1,081 at bats. He is the most recently retired non-pitcher to have more than 1,000 at-bats and no home runs.
Kelleher has consistently worked in major league baseball since retiring as a player. He has been a minor league coach and a scout. He also served as a first base coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates
in and for the Detroit Tigers
from to . Prior to being named first base coach for the Yankees, he was a defensive coordinator for the Yankees’ minor league system. His main assignment with the Yankees will be to monitor the development of Robinson Cano
, who he coached in the minor leagues.
As a minor league shortstop with the Tulsa Oilers
in 1972, Kelleher set an American Association
record for shortstops with a .979 fielding percentage
.
Perhaps Kelleher's most famous moment as a Major Leaguer came as a Cub in 1977. That August 7, in the second game of a doubleheader
against the San Diego Padres
at Wrigley Field
, Kelleher, at 5-9 and 170 pounds, responded to Dave Kingman
's hard slide into him on a double play
attempt (Kingman was apparently angered over being hit by a Steve Renko
pitch) by jumping on the 6-6, 210-pound Kingman's back and pummeling him with blows; the ensuing bench-clearing brawl
resulted in the ejections of both players. The two became teammates the following season, after Kingman signed with the Cubs as a free agent
.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
) is the first base coach for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He succeeded Tony Peña
Tony Peña
Antonio Francisco Peña Padilla is a former professional baseball player, manager and current coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Pirates, Cardinals, Red Sox, Indians, White Sox, and Astros. Peña was the manager of the Kansas City Royals between 2002 and 2005. He...
, who became the bench coach.
In 11 seasons, Kelleher was an infielder
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...
for 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...
(1972–73 and 1975), Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(1974), Chicago Cubs
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...
(1976–80), Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1981–82) and California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
(1982). He was a member of the 1982 AL Western Division Champions, playing mostly shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and hitting .163 in 49 at bats. He did not appear in the playoffs. Playing in 622 games, Kelleher recorded a career .213 batting average in 1,081 at bats. He is the most recently retired non-pitcher to have more than 1,000 at-bats and no home runs.
Kelleher has consistently worked in major league baseball since retiring as a player. He has been a minor league coach and a scout. He also served as a first base coach 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...
in and for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
from to . Prior to being named first base coach for the Yankees, he was a defensive coordinator for the Yankees’ minor league system. His main assignment with the Yankees will be to monitor the development of Robinson Cano
Robinson Canó
Robinson José Canó Mercedes is a Dominican baseball player who currently plays as a second baseman for the New York Yankees.-Family and early life:...
, who he coached in the minor leagues.
As a minor league shortstop with the Tulsa Oilers
Tulsa Oilers (baseball)
The Tulsa Oilers, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off in multiple leagues from 1905 to 1976. For most of their history, they played at Oiler Park, which opened on July 11, 1934, and was located on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds at 15th Street and...
in 1972, Kelleher set an 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...
record for shortstops with a .979 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
Perhaps Kelleher's most famous moment as a Major Leaguer came as a Cub in 1977. That August 7, in the second game of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
, Kelleher, at 5-9 and 170 pounds, responded to Dave Kingman
Dave Kingman
David Arthur Kingman , nicknamed "Kong" and "Sky King", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter. The towering 6' 6" Kingman was one of the most feared sluggers of the 1970s and 1980s...
's hard slide into him on a double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
attempt (Kingman was apparently angered over being hit by a Steve Renko
Steve Renko
Steve Renko, Jr. is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Montreal Expos , Chicago Cubs , Chicago White Sox , Oakland Athletics , Boston Red Sox , California Angels and Kansas City Royals .He helped the Angels win the 1982 American League Western...
pitch) by jumping on the 6-6, 210-pound Kingman's back and pummeling him with blows; the ensuing bench-clearing brawl
Bench-clearing brawl
A bench-clearing brawl, sometimes known as a basebrawl or a rhubarb, is a form of ritualistic fighting that occurs in sports, most notably baseball and ice hockey, in which every player on both teams leave their dugouts, bullpens, or benches and charge the playing area in order to fight one...
resulted in the ejections of both players. The two became teammates the following season, after Kingman signed with the Cubs as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.