Walt Kellner
Encyclopedia
Walter Joseph Kellner is a former relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who had an eight-year professional career, and played three games in the Major Leagues for the Philadelphia Athletics
between and . Kellner, 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds during his career, batted and threw right-handed.
Kellner signed with the Athletics as an amateur free agent in . He started out with Lincoln
in the Western League
, winning three games and losing fourteen in his first pro season. He served in the military in and part of 1952, but returned to baseball late in 1952 and debuted with Philadelphia on September 6 of that year. In his very first game, he picked up a save, facing 19 batters over four innings pitched
and giving up four hits and three runs
. He played two more games the following year, allowing one hit and two runs over three innings.
Kellner played several more years in the minors before retiring in . He died in his hometown of Tucson on June 19, 2006.
, also was a major league pitcher. The two were teammates in 1952 and 1953.
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...
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 had an eight-year professional career, and played three games in the Major Leagues for the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
between and . Kellner, 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds during his career, batted and threw right-handed.
Kellner signed with the Athletics as an amateur free agent in . He started out with Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
in 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...
, winning three games and losing fourteen in his first pro season. He served in the military in and part of 1952, but returned to baseball late in 1952 and debuted with Philadelphia on September 6 of that year. In his very first game, he picked up a save, facing 19 batters over four 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...
and giving up four hits and three 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...
. He played two more games the following year, allowing one hit and two runs over three innings.
Kellner played several more years in the minors before retiring in . He died in his hometown of Tucson on June 19, 2006.
Family
His older brother, AlexAlex Kellner
Alexander Raymond Kellner was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics , Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals . Kellner batted right handed and threw left handed. He was born in Tucson, Arizona...
, also was a major league pitcher. The two were teammates in 1952 and 1953.