Ken Keltner
Born: 10/31/1916 in Milwaukee, WI, USA
Died: 12/12/1991 in New Berlin, WI, USA
MLB Debut: 1937-10-02 | Final Game: 1950-05-25
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Kenneth Frederick Keltner
Biography
Ken Keltner, born in 1916, was a prominent American baseball player whose career spanned from 1937 to 1950. Primarily playing third base, Keltner became known for his solid defensive skills and powerful hitting during an era that valued both speed and strength. Over the course of 1,526 games, he amassed 1,570 hits and demonstrated his power with 163 home runs, contributing 852 RBIs to his teams. Keltner finished his career with a respectable batting average of .276 and also showcased his speed on the bases, recording 39 stolen bases.
Keltner was a seven-time All-Star, a testament to his consistent performance and respect among his peers during the mid-20th century. He played a significant role in the American League, particularly while with the Cleveland Indians, and is often remembered for his clutch performances and leadership on the field. His contributions came during a time when baseball was evolving, as players began to embrace more dynamic styles of play, moving away from the more conservative strategies of the previous decades. Keltner's legacy endures as one of the key figures of his generation, blending skill and tenacity that made him a fan favorite and a respected competitor in Major League Baseball.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80.0 | 73.0 | 8.0 | 21.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 12.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0.288 | 0.342 | 0.438 | 0.780 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 71.0 | 65.0 | 6.0 | 17.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0.262 | 0.314 | 0.415 | 0.729 |
| 1947 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.556 | 0.625 | 1.181 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1526 | 5683 | 737 | 1570 | 308 | 69 | 163 | 852 | 39 | 514 | 480 | 0.276 | 0.338 | 0.441 | 0.778 | 9834.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | CLE | AL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1938 | CLE | AL | 149 | 576 | 86 | 159 | 31 | 9 | 26 | 113 | 4 | 33 | 75 | 0.276 | 922.9 |
| 1939 | CLE | AL | 154 | 587 | 84 | 191 | 35 | 11 | 13 | 97 | 6 | 51 | 41 | 0.325 | 2026.7 |
| 1940 | CLE | AL | 149 | 543 | 67 | 138 | 24 | 10 | 15 | 77 | 10 | 51 | 56 | 0.254 | 110.0 |
| 1941 | CLE | AL | 149 | 581 | 83 | 156 | 31 | 13 | 23 | 84 | 2 | 51 | 56 | 0.269 | 1469.4 |
| 1942 | CLE | AL | 152 | 624 | 72 | 179 | 34 | 4 | 6 | 78 | 4 | 20 | 36 | 0.287 | 118.0 |
| 1943 | CLE | AL | 110 | 427 | 47 | 111 | 31 | 3 | 4 | 39 | 2 | 36 | 20 | 0.260 | 180.3 |
| 1944 | CLE | AL | 149 | 573 | 74 | 169 | 41 | 9 | 13 | 91 | 4 | 53 | 29 | 0.295 | 2073.2 |
| 1946 | CLE | AL | 116 | 398 | 47 | 96 | 17 | 1 | 13 | 45 | 0 | 30 | 38 | 0.241 | -194.0 |
| 1947 | CLE | AL | 151 | 541 | 49 | 139 | 29 | 3 | 11 | 76 | 5 | 59 | 45 | 0.257 | -17.1 |
| 1948 | CLE | AL | 153 | 558 | 91 | 166 | 24 | 4 | 31 | 119 | 2 | 89 | 52 | 0.297 | 3201.6 |
| 1949 | CLE | AL | 80 | 246 | 35 | 57 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 30 | 0 | 38 | 26 | 0.232 | -56.3 |
| 1950 | BOS | AL | 13 | 28 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0.321 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.095 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | WS | CLE | 6 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.095 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 1500 | 0 | 1576 | 3070 | 171 | 306 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | CLE | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1938 | CLE | 3B | 149 | 0 | 141 | 271 | 19 | 19 |
| 1939 | CLE | 3B | 154 | 0 | 187 | 297 | 13 | 40 |
| 1940 | CLE | 3B | 148 | 0 | 170 | 277 | 22 | 27 |
| 1941 | CLE | 3B | 149 | 0 | 181 | 346 | 16 | 36 |
| 1942 | CLE | 3B | 151 | 0 | 166 | 353 | 30 | 38 |
| 1943 | CLE | 3B | 107 | 0 | 113 | 228 | 11 | 24 |
| 1944 | CLE | 3B | 149 | 0 | 168 | 369 | 18 | 37 |
| 1946 | CLE | 3B | 112 | 0 | 112 | 195 | 11 | 18 |
| 1947 | CLE | 3B | 150 | 0 | 156 | 266 | 12 | 29 |
| 1948 | CLE | 3B | 153 | 0 | 123 | 312 | 14 | 27 |
| 1949 | CLE | 3B | 69 | 0 | 51 | 145 | 4 | 11 |
| 1950 | BOS | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1950 | BOS | 3B | 8 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 1501 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1942 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1942 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 18.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 31th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 15.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 12th | 26.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1938 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 16.0 | 336 | 0 |