Atlanta Braves Franchise best catchers: King Kelly
By Fred Owens
Our parade of Atlanta Braves franchise greats continues with a look at those handling great Braves pitching in the most physically demanding position on the field, catchers.
Selecting the noteworthy Atlanta Braves franchise catchers proved more difficult than I imagined. I thought I had it narrowed down to five, but by the time I finished digging into the details of each player’s career, I cheated and settled on six. But it’s my list so I’m allowed.
Michael J “King” Kelly, was a larger-than-life star before mass communications existed. His SABR bio opens with a perfect description.
". . . the first ballplayer to “author” an autobiography, the first to have a hit song written about him, and the first to have a successful acting career outside the game. A handsome man with a full mustache and a head of red hair, Kelly through his fame helped change professional baseball from a pleasant diversion into America’s most popular sport."
Orphaned before he graduated from grade school, Kelly didn’t hang his head; instead, he studied and worked at a coal factory carrying buckets of coal to the roof. After work, he played sports and acted in amateur plays. At 15-years old, the Paterson (New Jersey) Keystones recruited him, and by 18, he was their starting catcher.
In 1877 he moved to a team in New York then signed a contract to play in Ohio, but the team disbanded after the season. The Cincinnati Red Stockings liked him enough to offer him a contract, and, at 20-years old, he became one of their ten reserved players.
By 1879 when he hit .348, Kelly was a star; he was also baseball smart. You may remember Atlanta Braves new shortstop Yunel Escobar pilfering second while the pitcher tied his shoe; Kelly did a lot better than that:
"Kelly stroked a double to left. After he rounded second, the ball came in to Chicago second baseman Joe Quest, who thought he tagged Kelly out. The umpire called Kelly safe, which led to a fervent argument . . . Kelly, realizing that no one had called time, jumped up and came home to score. . ."
When the Red Stockings folded, he traveled with Cap Anson, who eventually signed him for the Chicago White Stockings; Anson and Kelly both have plaques at Cooperstown.
Although he played only three seasons for Boston, it’s impossible to leave a player with that resume off of the list – okay, it’s possible, but why do it? Kelly was known for drinking, using the rules to his advantage, and being a humble man. He was also the catcher on a Beaneaters NL Championship team.