George Kell
⭐ Hall of Fame 1983
Born: 8/23/1922 in Swifton, AR, USA
Died: 3/24/2009 in Swifton, AR, USA
MLB Debut: 1943-09-28 | Final Game: 1957-09-14
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: George Clyde Kell
Biography
George Kell, born in 1922, was a distinguished Major League Baseball player who made a significant impact on the sport during his career from 1943 to 1957. A skilled position player, Kell was known for his exceptional batting prowess, finishing his career with a .306 batting average over 1,795 games. He recorded 2,054 hits, 78 home runs, and 870 RBIs, showcasing his ability to contribute both as a consistent hitter and a reliable run producer. Throughout his time in the league, he demonstrated speed on the basepaths, accumulating 51 stolen bases, a notable achievement for a player of his era.
Kell's career was highlighted by his selection as an All-Star ten times, underscoring his status as one of the premier third basemen of his generation. His excellence on the field earned him induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983, solidifying his legacy within the sport. Playing primarily during the post-war period, Kell's career coincided with a time of transition in baseball, as the game began to integrate and evolve in the wake of World War II. His contributions not only reflected his personal talent but also served as an inspiration for future generations of players.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1795 | 6702 | 881 | 2054 | 385 | 50 | 78 | 870 | 51 | 621 | 287 | 0.306 | 0.367 | 0.414 | 0.781 | 12232.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | PHA | AL | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1944 | PHA | AL | 139 | 514 | 51 | 138 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 5 | 22 | 23 | 0.268 | -1136.9 |
| 1945 | PHA | AL | 147 | 567 | 50 | 154 | 30 | 3 | 4 | 56 | 2 | 27 | 15 | 0.272 | -531.7 |
| 1946 | DET | AL | 105 | 434 | 67 | 142 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 41 | 3 | 30 | 14 | 0.327 | 1305.6 |
| 1946 | PHA | AL | 26 | 87 | 3 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0.299 | 1305.6 |
| 1947 | DET | AL | 152 | 588 | 75 | 188 | 29 | 5 | 5 | 93 | 9 | 61 | 16 | 0.320 | 1538.4 |
| 1948 | DET | AL | 92 | 368 | 47 | 112 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 44 | 2 | 33 | 15 | 0.304 | 474.0 |
| 1949 | DET | AL | 134 | 522 | 97 | 179 | 38 | 9 | 3 | 59 | 7 | 71 | 13 | 0.343 | 2517.9 |
| 1950 | DET | AL | 157 | 641 | 114 | 218 | 56 | 6 | 8 | 101 | 3 | 66 | 18 | 0.340 | 2500.1 |
| 1951 | DET | AL | 147 | 598 | 92 | 191 | 36 | 3 | 2 | 59 | 10 | 61 | 18 | 0.319 | 1212.8 |
| 1952 | BOS | AL | 75 | 276 | 41 | 88 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 40 | 0 | 31 | 10 | 0.319 | 1057.2 |
| 1952 | DET | AL | 39 | 152 | 11 | 45 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 15 | 13 | 0.296 | 1057.2 |
| 1953 | BOS | AL | 134 | 460 | 68 | 141 | 41 | 2 | 12 | 73 | 5 | 52 | 22 | 0.307 | 1714.7 |
| 1954 | BOS | AL | 26 | 93 | 15 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 0.258 | -92.8 |
| 1954 | CHW | AL | 71 | 233 | 25 | 66 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 48 | 1 | 18 | 12 | 0.283 | -92.8 |
| 1955 | CHW | AL | 128 | 429 | 44 | 134 | 24 | 1 | 8 | 81 | 2 | 51 | 36 | 0.312 | 1231.2 |
| 1956 | BAL | AL | 102 | 345 | 45 | 90 | 17 | 2 | 8 | 37 | 0 | 25 | 31 | 0.261 | -292.8 |
| 1956 | CHW | AL | 21 | 80 | 7 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 0.312 | -292.8 |
| 1957 | BAL | AL | 99 | 310 | 28 | 92 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 44 | 2 | 25 | 16 | 0.297 | 458.2 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 85 | 68 | 557 | 22 | 2 | 53 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3B | 1692 | 323 | 1825 | 3303 | 166 | 306 |
| OF | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | PHA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1944 | PHA | 3B | 139 | 0 | 167 | 289 | 20 | 25 |
| 1945 | PHA | 3B | 147 | 0 | 186 | 345 | 20 | 32 |
| 1946 | DET | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946 | DET | 3B | 105 | 0 | 105 | 210 | 5 | 22 |
| 1946 | PHA | 3B | 26 | 0 | 36 | 57 | 2 | 5 |
| 1947 | DET | 3B | 152 | 0 | 167 | 333 | 20 | 25 |
| 1948 | DET | 3B | 92 | 0 | 108 | 146 | 8 | 15 |
| 1949 | DET | 3B | 134 | 0 | 154 | 271 | 11 | 23 |
| 1950 | DET | 3B | 157 | 0 | 186 | 315 | 9 | 30 |
| 1951 | DET | 3B | 147 | 0 | 175 | 310 | 20 | 34 |
| 1952 | BOS | 3B | 73 | 0 | 75 | 138 | 9 | 14 |
| 1952 | DET | 3B | 39 | 0 | 38 | 78 | 5 | 7 |
| 1953 | BOS | 3B | 124 | 0 | 114 | 231 | 10 | 23 |
| 1953 | BOS | OF | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1954 | BOS | 3B | 25 | 25 | 31 | 49 | 7 | 5 |
| 1954 | CHA | 1B | 32 | 32 | 253 | 8 | 1 | 27 |
| 1954 | CHA | 3B | 31 | 27 | 19 | 48 | 3 | 4 |
| 1954 | CHA | OF | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | CHA | 1B | 24 | 13 | 133 | 5 | 1 | 12 |
| 1955 | CHA | 3B | 105 | 102 | 83 | 165 | 6 | 8 |
| 1955 | CHA | OF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | BAL | 1B | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | BAL | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1956 | BAL | 3B | 97 | 93 | 97 | 165 | 7 | 19 |
| 1956 | CHA | 1B | 4 | 4 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 1956 | CHA | 3B | 18 | 17 | 17 | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| 1957 | BAL | 1B | 22 | 19 | 146 | 5 | 0 | 10 |
| 1957 | BAL | 3B | 80 | 59 | 66 | 122 | 4 | 15 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 85 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 1690 |
| Left Field | 10 |
| Right Field | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1951 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1950 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1950 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1950 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1949 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1949 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1949 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1948 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1947 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1947 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1946 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1946 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 26th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1951 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 15th | 30.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1950 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 127.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1949 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 80.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1948 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 16th | 14.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 5th | 132.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 16th | 12.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 22th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |