Roberto Kelly
Born: 10/1/1964 in Panama City, Panama, Panama
MLB Debut: 1987-07-29 | Final Game: 2000-04-18
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Roberto Conrado Kelly
Biography
Roberto Kelly was a talented position player who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball from 1987 to 2000. Born in 1964, Kelly played in a total of 1,337 games during his career, amassing 1,390 hits and achieving a commendable batting average of .290. His offensive prowess was highlighted by 124 home runs and 585 runs batted in, showcasing his ability to contribute both power and consistency to his teams. Known for his speed on the bases, he successfully stole 235 bases, making him a dual threat as a hitter and baserunner.
Over his career, Kelly was recognized for his skills with two All-Star selections, underscoring his status among the elite players of his era. He played during a transformative time in baseball, witnessing the transition from the more traditional styles of play to the increasingly powerful and competitive nature of the game in the late 1990s. His contributions were felt on multiple teams, including the New York Yankees, where he began his career, and later with the Cincinnati Reds, among others. Kelly's blend of hitting ability and base running made him a key player of his generation, leaving a lasting legacy in the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1337 | 4797 | 687 | 1390 | 241 | 30 | 124 | 585 | 235 | 317 | 862 | 0.290 | 0.337 | 0.430 | 0.767 | 4045.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | NYY | AL | 23 | 52 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 0.269 | -44.4 |
| 1988 | NYY | AL | 38 | 77 | 9 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 0.247 | -141.4 |
| 1989 | NYY | AL | 137 | 441 | 65 | 133 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 48 | 35 | 41 | 89 | 0.302 | 1242.5 |
| 1990 | NYY | AL | 162 | 641 | 85 | 183 | 32 | 4 | 15 | 61 | 42 | 33 | 148 | 0.285 | 408.6 |
| 1991 | NYY | AL | 126 | 486 | 68 | 130 | 22 | 2 | 20 | 69 | 32 | 45 | 77 | 0.267 | 868.9 |
| 1992 | NYY | AL | 152 | 580 | 81 | 158 | 31 | 2 | 10 | 66 | 28 | 41 | 96 | 0.272 | 34.2 |
| 1993 | CIN | NL | 78 | 320 | 44 | 102 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 35 | 21 | 17 | 43 | 0.319 | 675.1 |
| 1994 | ATL | NL | 63 | 255 | 44 | 73 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 10 | 24 | 36 | 0.286 | 111.5 |
| 1994 | CIN | NL | 47 | 179 | 29 | 54 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 9 | 11 | 35 | 0.302 | 111.5 |
| 1995 | LAD | NL | 112 | 409 | 47 | 114 | 19 | 2 | 6 | 48 | 15 | 15 | 65 | 0.279 | -879.2 |
| 1995 | WSN | NL | 24 | 95 | 11 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 0.274 | -879.2 |
| 1996 | MIN | AL | 98 | 322 | 41 | 104 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 47 | 10 | 23 | 53 | 0.323 | 535.2 |
| 1997 | MIN | AL | 75 | 247 | 39 | 71 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 37 | 7 | 17 | 50 | 0.287 | 80.4 |
| 1997 | SEA | AL | 30 | 121 | 19 | 36 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 0.298 | 80.4 |
| 1998 | TEX | AL | 75 | 257 | 48 | 83 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 46 | 0 | 8 | 46 | 0.323 | 901.6 |
| 1999 | TEX | AL | 87 | 290 | 41 | 87 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 37 | 6 | 21 | 57 | 0.300 | 186.0 |
| 2000 | NYY | AL | 10 | 25 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.120 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 34 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0.294 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | ALDS2 | TEX | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.333 |
| 1998 | ALDS2 | TEX | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.143 |
| 1997 | ALDS2 | SEA | 4 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0.308 |
| 1995 | NLDS2 | LAN | 3 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.364 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1283 | 1202 | 2896 | 57 | 44 | 12 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | NYA | OF | 17 | 12 | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1988 | NYA | OF | 30 | 19 | 70 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | NYA | OF | 137 | 133 | 353 | 9 | 6 | 2 |
| 1990 | NYA | OF | 160 | 155 | 420 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1991 | NYA | OF | 125 | 124 | 268 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| 1992 | NYA | OF | 146 | 142 | 389 | 8 | 7 | 3 |
| 1993 | CIN | OF | 77 | 77 | 198 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1994 | ATL | OF | 63 | 63 | 128 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | CIN | OF | 47 | 47 | 118 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1995 | LAN | OF | 110 | 107 | 183 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| 1995 | MON | OF | 24 | 24 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | MIN | OF | 93 | 88 | 203 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 | MIN | OF | 59 | 51 | 101 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | SEA | OF | 29 | 27 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | TEX | OF | 71 | 57 | 155 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 1999 | TEX | OF | 85 | 68 | 155 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 2000 | NYA | OF | 10 | 8 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 246 |
| Center Field | 886 |
| Right Field | 184 |
| Designated Hitter | 23 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Player of the Week | Week of 1990-08-25 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | NYA | AL | $800,000 |
| 1999 | TEX | AL | $2,225,000 |
| 1998 | TEX | AL | $1,625,000 |
| 1997 | MIN | AL | $750,000 |
| 1996 | MIN | AL | $550,000 |
| 1995 | LAN | NL | $3,733,334 |
| 1994 | CIN | NL | $3,133,333 |
| 1993 | CIN | NL | $3,133,333 |
| 1992 | NYA | AL | $2,150,000 |
| 1991 | NYA | AL | $900,000 |
| 1990 | NYA | AL | $265,000 |
| 1989 | NYA | AL | $80,000 |
| 1988 | NYA | AL | $67,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $19,412,000 | ||