Henry Kessler
Born: 7/27/1851 in Brooklyn, NY, USA
Died: 1/8/1900 in Franklin, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1873-08-04 | Final Game: 1877-06-16
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 144 lbs
Biography
Henry Kessler was a professional baseball player born in 1851, who played in the late 19th century, an era characterized by the transition from the early days of baseball to a more organized and competitive sport. Kessler’s career spanned from 1873 to June 16, 1877, during a time when the game was still evolving, and the foundations for modern baseball were being laid. He was primarily recognized as a position player, participating in a total of 105 games throughout his career.
Kessler recorded 110 hits with a batting average of .253, contributing 23 RBIs to his teams. While he did not hit any home runs or steal bases, his consistent hitting and ability to get on base were valuable to his teams in an era where the game emphasized contact and strategy over power. Kessler's contributions to the game during its formative years reflect the challenges and developments of baseball as it grew in popularity and complexity. His career, although brief, remains a part of the rich tapestry of baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 105 | 434 | 51 | 110 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 0.253 | 0.270 | 0.272 | 0.542 | -279.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1873 | BR2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.200 | 0.0 | |
| 1874 | BR2 | 14 | 56 | 8 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.304 | 18.2 | |
| 1875 | BR2 | 25 | 105 | 17 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.248 | -102.3 | |
| 1876 | CN1 | NL | 59 | 248 | 26 | 64 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0.258 | -195.3 |
| 1877 | CN1 | NL | 6 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.100 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 3 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2B | 5 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 12 | 0 |
| 3B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| C | 17 | 8 | 51 | 15 | 33 | 2 |
| OF | 27 | 1 | 33 | 9 | 16 | 2 |
| SS | 64 | 0 | 81 | 171 | 67 | 12 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1873 | BR2 | 1B | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1874 | BR2 | C | 9 | 8 | 36 | 6 | 15 | 0 |
| 1874 | BR2 | 2B | 4 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| 1874 | BR2 | 3B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1874 | BR2 | OF | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1875 | BR2 | C | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 1875 | BR2 | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1875 | BR2 | 2B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1875 | BR2 | SS | 18 | 0 | 24 | 53 | 20 | 1 |
| 1875 | BR2 | OF | 7 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| 1876 | CN1 | SS | 46 | 0 | 57 | 118 | 47 | 11 |
| 1876 | CN1 | OF | 16 | 0 | 20 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 1877 | CN1 | C | 5 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 1 |
| 1877 | CN1 | 1B | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 17 |
| First Base | 3 |
| Second Base | 5 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Shortstop | 64 |
| Left Field | 2 |
| Center Field | 8 |
| Right Field | 17 |