Russ McKelvy
Encyclopedia
Russell Errett McKelvy was an American
Major League Baseball
player who played center field
for the Indianapolis Blues
of the National League
(the only year the Blues were in the Major Leagues), and one game in right field
for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys
.
from 1873 through 1877, he signed with the Indianapolis Blues of the National league for the 1878 season. He became the first player from Allegheny College to make it to the Major League level, as well the first to hit a home run
. It came against Bobby Mitchell
on June 1, 1878, in the top of the third inning, when he hit a two-run, inside-the-park home run
. It was the only home run Mitchell surrendered during his four year career. McKelvy played in a league leading 63 games that season, 62 of them in center field, which also led all National league center fielders in games played
. His two home runs were third, and his 36 RBIs
were seventh amongst the league leaders. He pitched in a total of four games as a pitcher
, one of which was a start
, and the other three came in relief
.
1878 was the only year that the Blues were at the Major League level, and McKelvy didn't reappear in the Majors until he made a one-game return, for the 1882 Pittsburgh Alleganys. In that game, played on August 24, 1882, he played right field, batted
four times, and did not gather a hit
. This was his last appearance in the Majors.
, and is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park
in Omaha.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
player who played center field
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
for the Indianapolis Blues
Indianapolis Blues
The Indianapolis Blues were a baseball team in the National League only during the 1878 season and finished fifth in the six-team league with a 24-36 record. They were managed by outfielder/first baseman/catcher John Clapp, and played their home games at South Street Park.Their top-hitting regular...
of 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...
(the only year the Blues were in the Major Leagues), and one game in right field
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys
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...
.
Career
After attending Allegheny CollegeAllegheny College
Allegheny College is a private liberal arts college located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the town of Meadville. Founded in 1815, the college has about 2,100 undergraduate students.-Early history:...
from 1873 through 1877, he signed with the Indianapolis Blues of the National league for the 1878 season. He became the first player from Allegheny College to make it to the Major League level, as well the first to hit a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
. It came against Bobby Mitchell
Bobby Mitchell (pitcher)
Robert McKasha "Bobby" Mitchell was a professional baseball pitcher during the 19th century. Mitchell played for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Blues, and St. Louis Brown Stockings...
on June 1, 1878, in the top of the third inning, when he hit a two-run, inside-the-park home run
Inside-the-park home run
In baseball parlance, an inside-the-park home run, "leg home run", or "quadruple", is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the ball out of play.-Discussion:...
. It was the only home run Mitchell surrendered during his four year career. McKelvy played in a league leading 63 games that season, 62 of them in center field, which also led all National league center fielders in games played
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,...
. His two home runs were third, and his 36 RBIs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
were seventh amongst the league leaders. He pitched in a total of four games as a pitcher
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...
, one of which was a start
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, and the other three came in relief
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...
.
1878 was the only year that the Blues were at the Major League level, and McKelvy didn't reappear in the Majors until he made a one-game return, for the 1882 Pittsburgh Alleganys. In that game, played on August 24, 1882, he played right field, batted
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...
four times, and did not gather a hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. This was his last appearance in the Majors.
Post-career
McKelvy died at the age of 61 in Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, and is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Omaha)
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, also known as Forest Lawn Cemetery, is located at 7909 Mormon Bridge Road in Omaha, Nebraska. It was established in 1885 when the Forest Lawn Cemetery Association was donated in northwest of the city. In 1886, the first internment in the Cemetery was the donor of the...
in Omaha.