Charlie Keller
Outfielder · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1939-1952)
Charlie Keller was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1939 to 1952 for the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers, a span of 14 seasons. In 1,170 career games, he hit .286 with 1,085 hits, 189 home runs, and 760 RBI. Charlie Keller was a 5-time All-Star. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 25,963.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Outfielder
- Bats / Throws
- L / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'10" / 185 lb
- Died
- 5/23/1990 in Frederick, MD, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1939-04-22
- Last Game
- 1952-09-14
- Awards
- 5× All-Star
Full name: Charles Ernest Keller
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,170 | 3,790 | 725 | 1,085 | 166 | 72 | 189 | 760 | 45 | 784 | 499 | .286 | .410 | .518 | .928 | 25,963 |
Career AVG .286 vs. league average .261 across their career seasons — +9.5% above league average.
Career OBP .410 vs. league average .334 across their career seasons — +22.7% above league average.
Career SLG .518 vs. league average .373 across their career seasons — +38.7% above league average.
Career OPS .928 vs. league average .707 across their career seasons — +31.2% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | NYA | AL | 111 | 398 | 87 | 133 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 83 | 6 | 81 | 49 | .334 | .274 (+22%) | .342 (+31%) | .393 (+27%) | .735 (+29%) | 2602.9 |
| 1940 | NYA | AL | 138 | 500 | 102 | 143 | 18 | 15 | 21 | 93 | 8 | 106 | 65 | .286 | .267 (+7%) | .335 (+23%) | .387 (+31%) | .722 (+27%) | 3041.6 |
| 1941 | NYA | AL | 140 | 507 | 102 | 151 | 24 | 10 | 33 | 122 | 6 | 102 | 65 | .298 | .262 (+14%) | .332 (+25%) | .373 (+55%) | .705 (+41%) | 4372.2 |
| 1942 | NYA | AL | 152 | 544 | 106 | 159 | 24 | 9 | 26 | 108 | 14 | 114 | 61 | .292 | .253 (+15%) | .323 (+29%) | .349 (+47%) | .672 (+38%) | 4439.5 |
| 1943 | NYA | AL | 141 | 512 | 97 | 139 | 15 | 11 | 31 | 86 | 7 | 106 | 60 | .271 | .255 (+6%) | .324 (+22%) | .346 (+52%) | .671 (+37%) | 3884.4 |
| 1945 | NYA | AL | 44 | 163 | 26 | 49 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 34 | 0 | 31 | 21 | .301 | .260 (+15%) | .328 (+25%) | .354 (+62%) | .683 (+45%) | 1240.8 |
| 1946 | NYA | AL | 150 | 538 | 98 | 148 | 29 | 10 | 30 | 101 | 1 | 113 | 101 | .275 | .256 (+7%) | .328 (+23%) | .358 (+49%) | .687 (+36%) | 4157.4 |
| 1947 | NYA | AL | 45 | 151 | 36 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 36 | 0 | 41 | 18 | .238 | .262 (-9%) | .336 (+20%) | .376 (+46%) | .712 (+34%) | 990.9 |
| 1948 | NYA | AL | 83 | 247 | 41 | 66 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 44 | 1 | 41 | 25 | .267 | .263 (+1%) | .340 (+9%) | .379 (+10%) | .719 (+10%) | 500.9 |
| 1949 | NYA | AL | 60 | 116 | 17 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 2 | 25 | 15 | .250 | .262 (-5%) | .343 (+14%) | .384 (-1%) | .727 (+6%) | 213.9 |
| 1950 | DET | AL | 50 | 51 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 13 | 6 | .314 | .265 (+18%) | .346 (+31%) | .401 (+42%) | .747 (+37%) | 370.1 |
| 1951 | DET | AL | 54 | 62 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 11 | 12 | .258 | .260 (-1%) | .336 (+10%) | .385 (+13%) | .721 (+12%) | 148.8 |
| 1952 | NYA | AL | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 13 seasons | 1,170 | 3,790 | 725 | 1,085 | 166 | 72 | 189 | 760 | 45 | 784 | 499 | .286 | — | — | — | — | 25,963 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1170 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 598 | 1875 | 339 | 522 | 107 | 380 | .278 |
| Away | 572 | 1915 | 386 | 563 | 82 | 380 | .294 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952-09-14 | NYY | CLE | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952-09-13 | NYY | CHW | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1951-08-29 | DET | BOS | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951-08-26 | DET | PHA | W | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1951-08-24 | DET | MIN | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1951-08-22 | DET | NYY | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1951-08-21 | DET | NYY | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1951-08-19 | DET | SLA | W | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951-08-19 | DET | SLA | W | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951-08-17 | DET | SLA | W | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | NYA | OF | 105 | 0 | 213 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
| 1940 | NYA | OF | 136 | 0 | 317 | 5 | 11 | 2 |
| 1941 | NYA | OF | 137 | 0 | 328 | 7 | 7 | 2 |
| 1942 | NYA | OF | 152 | 0 | 321 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| 1943 | NYA | OF | 141 | 0 | 338 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 1945 | NYA | OF | 44 | 0 | 110 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946 | NYA | OF | 149 | 0 | 324 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| 1947 | NYA | OF | 43 | 0 | 85 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1948 | NYA | OF | 66 | 0 | 126 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1949 | NYA | OF | 31 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1950 | DET | OF | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951 | DET | OF | 8 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | NYA | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 874 |
| Right Field | 144 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1943 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | LF |
| 1940 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | RF |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland | College Park | MD | 1935, 1936 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 15th | 17.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 13th | 31.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 15.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 5th | 126.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 22th | 7.0 | 336 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Charlie Keller (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Charlie Keller
Charlie Keller: the record in brief
The profile opens with Charlie Keller's first major league game on April 22, 1939; the last one listed came on September 14, 1952. By club, Keller's seasons break down as the New York Yankees (1939 to 1952) and the Detroit Tigers (1950 through 1951). Keller played primarily as an outfielder and hit left-handed while throwing right-handed. Born on September 12, 1916, in Middletown, MD, USA, Keller was listed at 185 pounds on a 5-foot-10 frame. Keller's death is recorded on May 23, 1990, in Frederick, MD, USA. The given name on file is Charles Ernest Keller.
Across 1,170 games at the plate, Keller's career line reads 1,085 hits in 3,790 at bats for a .286 average, along with 189 home runs, 760 RBI, and 45 stolen bases. Keller got on base at a .410 rate and slugged .518 (.928 OPS). The league as a whole hit .261 across Keller's seasons, which puts the .286 career mark 9.5% above average.
Frequently Asked Questions about Charlie Keller
- What years did Charlie Keller play?
- Charlie Keller played in Major League Baseball from 1939 to 1952.
- Was Charlie Keller a pitcher?
- No. Charlie Keller was a position player (Outfielder).
- How many home runs did Charlie Keller hit?
- Charlie Keller hit 189 career home runs with 1,085 hits.
- What teams did Charlie Keller play for?
- Charlie Keller played for 2 teams: the New York Yankees (1939–1943, 1945–1949, 1952) and the Detroit Tigers (1950–1951).
- Did Charlie Keller win an MVP award?
- No. Charlie Keller did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Charlie Keller win?
- Charlie Keller was selected to 5 All-Star Games.
- What were Charlie Keller's career stats?
- In 1,170 games, Charlie Keller had 1,085 hits, 189 home runs, 760 RBI, 725 runs, and 45 stolen bases, with a .286 batting average.
- What position did Charlie Keller play?
- Charlie Keller played primarily as an outfielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Charlie Keller and how much did he weigh?
- Charlie Keller was listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 185 pounds.
- How many home runs did Charlie Keller hit each season?
- Charlie Keller's home runs by season: 11 in 1939, 21 in 1940, 33 in 1941, 26 in 1942, 31 in 1943, 10 in 1945, 30 in 1946, 13 in 1947, 6 in 1948, 3 in 1949, 2 in 1950, 3 in 1951, and 0 in 1952. His most in one season was 33, in 1941.
- What was Charlie Keller's career batting average?
- Charlie Keller batted .286 over his career, with 1,085 hits in 3,790 at bats.
- How many RBI did Charlie Keller have?
- Charlie Keller drove in 760 runs in his career.
- Is Charlie Keller in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Charlie Keller has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
- How many All-Star Games did Charlie Keller make?
- Charlie Keller was selected to 5 All-Star Games.