John Kennedy
Born: 5/29/1941 in Chicago, IL, USA
Died: 8/9/2018 in Peabody, MA, USA
MLB Debut: 1962-09-05 | Final Game: 1974-06-16
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: John Edward Kennedy
Biography
John Kennedy, born in 1941, was a professional baseball player who had a career spanning from 1962 until 1974. Primarily known as a position player, Kennedy played in a total of 856 games over his 12-year career. He recorded 475 hits, including 32 home runs, and drove in 185 runs, finishing with a career batting average of .225. While his offensive numbers may not have placed him among the elite hitters of his era, Kennedy was recognized for his versatility and ability to contribute in various roles on the field.
Playing during a time of significant change in Major League Baseball, Kennedy's career unfolded during the transition from the deadball era into a period marked by greater offensive production in the game. Known for his speed on the base paths, he successfully stole 14 bases, showcasing his ability to impact the game beyond his batting statistics. Throughout his time in the league, Kennedy exemplified the qualities of a dependable role player, carving out a niche that allowed him to remain a relevant figure in the sport until his retirement on June 16, 1974.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 856 | 2110 | 237 | 475 | 77 | 17 | 32 | 185 | 14 | 142 | 461 | 0.225 | 0.281 | 0.323 | 0.604 | -4652.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | WS2 | AL | 14 | 42 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0.262 | 0.0 |
| 1963 | WS2 | AL | 36 | 62 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 0.177 | -270.7 |
| 1964 | WS2 | AL | 148 | 482 | 55 | 111 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 35 | 3 | 29 | 119 | 0.230 | -1186.9 |
| 1965 | LAD | NL | 104 | 105 | 12 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 33 | 0.171 | -564.8 |
| 1966 | LAD | NL | 125 | 274 | 15 | 55 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 1 | 10 | 64 | 0.201 | -1245.7 |
| 1967 | NYY | AL | 78 | 179 | 22 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 2 | 17 | 35 | 0.196 | -727.2 |
| 1969 | SE1 | AL | 61 | 128 | 18 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 25 | 0.234 | -12.5 |
| 1970 | BOS | AL | 43 | 129 | 15 | 33 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 0.256 | -52.9 |
| 1970 | ATL | AL | 25 | 55 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0.255 | -52.9 |
| 1971 | BOS | AL | 74 | 272 | 41 | 75 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 22 | 1 | 14 | 42 | 0.276 | 261.9 |
| 1972 | BOS | AL | 71 | 212 | 22 | 52 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 18 | 40 | 0.245 | -97.7 |
| 1973 | BOS | AL | 67 | 155 | 17 | 28 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 12 | 45 | 0.181 | -761.2 |
| 1974 | BOS | AL | 10 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.133 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.167 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | WS | LAN | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.200 |
| 1965 | WS | LAN | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2B | 143 | 114 | 280 | 288 | 21 | 81 |
| 3B | 455 | 273 | 299 | 665 | 48 | 52 |
| SS | 226 | 173 | 304 | 503 | 46 | 106 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | WS2 | 3B | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 1962 | WS2 | SS | 9 | 9 | 13 | 25 | 1 | 4 |
| 1963 | WS2 | 3B | 26 | 18 | 16 | 46 | 3 | 4 |
| 1963 | WS2 | SS | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | WS2 | 2B | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1964 | WS2 | 3B | 106 | 81 | 97 | 191 | 18 | 14 |
| 1964 | WS2 | SS | 49 | 43 | 71 | 130 | 7 | 27 |
| 1965 | LAN | 3B | 95 | 21 | 35 | 64 | 3 | 5 |
| 1965 | LAN | SS | 5 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 1966 | LAN | 2B | 15 | 10 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 7 |
| 1966 | LAN | 3B | 87 | 52 | 39 | 127 | 6 | 10 |
| 1966 | LAN | SS | 28 | 24 | 37 | 57 | 2 | 15 |
| 1967 | NYA | 2B | 2 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | NYA | 3B | 34 | 24 | 31 | 64 | 4 | 5 |
| 1967 | NYA | SS | 36 | 29 | 43 | 87 | 12 | 16 |
| 1969 | SE1 | 3B | 23 | 18 | 21 | 37 | 2 | 2 |
| 1969 | SE1 | SS | 33 | 14 | 42 | 45 | 8 | 11 |
| 1970 | BOS | 2B | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1970 | BOS | 3B | 33 | 28 | 31 | 65 | 4 | 4 |
| 1970 | BOS | SS | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | ML4 | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | ML4 | 2B | 16 | 14 | 26 | 32 | 5 | 7 |
| 1970 | ML4 | 3B | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 1971 | BOS | 2B | 37 | 31 | 71 | 76 | 4 | 16 |
| 1971 | BOS | 3B | 5 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| 1971 | BOS | SS | 33 | 27 | 41 | 74 | 9 | 18 |
| 1972 | BOS | 2B | 32 | 25 | 62 | 66 | 5 | 21 |
| 1972 | BOS | 3B | 11 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| 1972 | BOS | SS | 27 | 22 | 44 | 65 | 5 | 13 |
| 1973 | BOS | 2B | 31 | 27 | 75 | 72 | 3 | 25 |
| 1973 | BOS | 3B | 24 | 14 | 17 | 36 | 3 | 5 |
| 1974 | BOS | 2B | 6 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| 1974 | BOS | 3B | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1 |
| Second Base | 139 |
| Third Base | 459 |
| Shortstop | 226 |
| Designated Hitter | 10 |