Bob Kennedy
Born: 8/18/1920 in Chicago, IL, USA
Died: 4/7/2005 in Mesa, AZ, USA
MLB Debut: 1939-09-14 | Final Game: 1957-09-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 193 lbs
Full name: Robert Daniel Kennedy
Biography
Bob Kennedy, born in 1920, was a versatile position player whose career spanned from 1939 to 1957. Over the course of 1,483 games in Major League Baseball, Kennedy established himself as a reliable contributor to his teams, amassing 1,176 hits and driving in 514 runs. His power was evident with 63 home runs, and he showcased his speed on the bases with 45 stolen bases. Kennedy finished his career with a batting average of .254, highlighting his ability to consistently reach base during a time when offense was evolving and becoming increasingly important in the game.
Kennedy played in a transitional era for baseball, which included the onset of World War II and the post-war changes that impacted player compositions and team strategies. He was known for his hard-nosed playing style and versatility, often filling in at various positions as needed. His contributions to the teams he played for, including the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers, remain a testament to his skill and adaptability on the field. As a part of the fabric of baseball during the mid-20th century, Kennedy's legacy is remembered among fans and historians alike.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1483 | 4624 | 514 | 1176 | 196 | 41 | 63 | 514 | 45 | 364 | 443 | 0.254 | 0.309 | 0.355 | 0.665 | -7000.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | CHW | AL | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1940 | CHW | AL | 154 | 606 | 74 | 153 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 52 | 3 | 42 | 58 | 0.252 | -1901.9 |
| 1941 | CHW | AL | 76 | 257 | 16 | 53 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 5 | 17 | 23 | 0.206 | -1207.6 |
| 1942 | CHW | AL | 113 | 412 | 37 | 95 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 11 | 22 | 41 | 0.231 | -1302.6 |
| 1946 | CHW | AL | 113 | 411 | 43 | 106 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 34 | 6 | 24 | 42 | 0.258 | -521.6 |
| 1947 | CHW | AL | 115 | 428 | 47 | 112 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 48 | 3 | 18 | 38 | 0.262 | -839.1 |
| 1948 | CHW | AL | 30 | 113 | 4 | 28 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 0.248 | -343.7 |
| 1948 | CLE | AL | 66 | 73 | 10 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0.301 | -343.7 |
| 1949 | CLE | AL | 121 | 424 | 49 | 117 | 23 | 5 | 9 | 57 | 5 | 37 | 40 | 0.276 | 145.5 |
| 1950 | CLE | AL | 146 | 540 | 79 | 157 | 27 | 5 | 9 | 54 | 3 | 53 | 31 | 0.291 | 223.9 |
| 1951 | CLE | AL | 108 | 321 | 30 | 79 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 29 | 4 | 34 | 33 | 0.246 | -205.5 |
| 1952 | CLE | AL | 22 | 40 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 0.300 | 0.0 |
| 1953 | CLE | AL | 100 | 161 | 22 | 38 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 19 | 11 | 0.236 | -343.9 |
| 1954 | BAL | AL | 106 | 323 | 37 | 81 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 45 | 2 | 28 | 43 | 0.251 | -559.8 |
| 1954 | CLE | AL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | -559.8 |
| 1955 | BAL | AL | 26 | 70 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0.143 | -497.1 |
| 1955 | CHW | AL | 83 | 214 | 28 | 65 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 43 | 0 | 16 | 16 | 0.304 | -497.1 |
| 1956 | CHW | AL | 8 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0.077 | 0.0 |
| 1956 | DET | AL | 69 | 177 | 17 | 41 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 2 | 24 | 19 | 0.232 | 0.0 |
| 1957 | BRO | NL | 19 | 31 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.129 | 0.0 |
| 1957 | CHW | AL | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | WS | CLE | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 10 | 6 | 57 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| 2B | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 3B | 540 | 118 | 555 | 1067 | 105 | 90 |
| OF | 821 | 68 | 1400 | 63 | 33 | 14 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | CHA | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1940 | CHA | 3B | 154 | 0 | 178 | 322 | 33 | 25 |
| 1941 | CHA | 3B | 71 | 0 | 88 | 153 | 17 | 12 |
| 1942 | CHA | 3B | 96 | 0 | 99 | 207 | 14 | 17 |
| 1942 | CHA | OF | 16 | 0 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1946 | CHA | 3B | 29 | 0 | 19 | 77 | 10 | 6 |
| 1946 | CHA | OF | 75 | 0 | 157 | 10 | 6 | 1 |
| 1947 | CHA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1947 | CHA | OF | 106 | 0 | 204 | 8 | 7 | 3 |
| 1948 | CHA | OF | 30 | 0 | 61 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1948 | CLE | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1948 | CLE | 2B | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1948 | CLE | OF | 50 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1949 | CLE | 3B | 21 | 0 | 13 | 44 | 1 | 4 |
| 1949 | CLE | OF | 98 | 0 | 190 | 12 | 2 | 4 |
| 1950 | CLE | OF | 144 | 0 | 294 | 13 | 4 | 3 |
| 1951 | CLE | OF | 106 | 0 | 174 | 9 | 6 | 2 |
| 1952 | CLE | 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 1952 | CLE | OF | 13 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1953 | CLE | OF | 89 | 0 | 91 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1954 | BAL | 3B | 71 | 59 | 81 | 131 | 14 | 10 |
| 1954 | BAL | OF | 21 | 17 | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954 | CLE | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | BAL | 1B | 6 | 5 | 47 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 1955 | BAL | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | BAL | OF | 14 | 12 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | CHA | 1B | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1955 | CHA | 3B | 55 | 32 | 32 | 73 | 7 | 10 |
| 1955 | CHA | OF | 20 | 15 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | CHA | 3B | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 1956 | DET | 3B | 27 | 21 | 35 | 38 | 8 | 3 |
| 1956 | DET | OF | 29 | 20 | 52 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 1957 | BRO | 3B | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1957 | BRO | OF | 9 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 10 |
| Second Base | 2 |
| Third Base | 540 |
| Left Field | 205 |
| Center Field | 36 |
| Right Field | 596 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |