Kit McKenna, baseball player, 1898-1899

Kit McKenna

Born: 2/10/1873 in Lynchburg, VA, USA

Died: 3/31/1941 in Lynchburg, VA, USA

MLB Debut: 1898-07-07 | Final Game: 1899-09-27

Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: James William McKenna

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Biography

Kit McKenna was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1898 to 1899. Born in 1873, he entered the major leagues during a transitional period in baseball, characterized by the fading of the deadball era as the sport began to evolve into a more offensive game. McKenna played in a time when the role of pitchers was becoming increasingly specialized, yet the statistics he compiled reflect the challenges faced by pitchers of his era. Throughout his brief career, McKenna recorded a win-loss record of 4-9 and posted an earned run average (ERA) of 5.31. He struck out 34 batters and earned one save, showcasing his ability to handle pressure situations despite the overall difficulties of his pitching tenure. While not a dominant force on the mound, McKenna's contributions during his time in the league illustrated the perseverance and dedication of players in the late 19th century, a period that laid the groundwork for the future of baseball. His legacy, like many players of his time, is a testament to the evolution of the game and the enduring spirit of those who played it.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
4 9 22 13 11 0 1 145.7 184 86 5 76 34 5.31 0

Career ERA 5.31 vs. league average 3.72 across their career seasons — 42.8% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year Team Lg W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA Lg ERA Pitcher PIV
1898 BRO NL 2 6 14 9 7 0 0 100.7 118 63 57 27 5.63 3.59 (-57%) -3482.8
1899 BLN NL 2 3 8 4 4 0 1 45.0 66 23 19 7 4.60 3.85 (-20%) -606.9

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
23 57 6 10 4 0 0 7 0 5 5 0.175 0.254 0.246 0.500 0.0

Career AVG .175 vs. league average .277 across their career seasons — 36.6% below league average.

Career OBP .254 vs. league average .339 across their career seasons — 25.0% below league average.

Career SLG .246 vs. league average .357 across their career seasons — 31.2% below league average.

Career OPS 0.500 vs. league average 0.696 across their career seasons — 28.2% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1898 BRO NL 14 40 5 9 3 0 0 7 0 2 2 0.225 — — — — 0.0
1899 BLN NL 9 17 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 3 0.059 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 1 0 1 0 0 0
P 22 0 2 44 1 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1898 BRO P 14 0 1 34 1 0
1899 BLN OF 1 0 1 0 0 0
1899 BLN P 8 0 1 10 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 22
Left Field 1