Bill Kemmer

William Edward Kemmer
born William Edward Kemmerer

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 195 lb.

• Debut June 3, 1895
• Final Game June 18, 1895
• Born November 15, 1873 in Turbot, PA USA
• Died June 8, 1945 in Washington, DC USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Bill Kemmer played 11 games for the Louisville Colonels in June of 1895, hitting .184.

The Colonels were in a bind at that time. The famous third baseman Jerry Denny had finished out his career with them the previous year, and now there was an opening at third base. The team tried Walt Preston during the early part of the season, but Preston had a fielding average of .735. In June they tried the 21-year-old Kemmer, but his fielding percentage in 9 games was .809, thanks to 9 errors, and he took some heat in the press for his fielding. he also played a couple of games at first base, committing another error. Finally, the Colonels arranged to get a loan of the young Jimmy Collins, a future Hall of Famer, from the Boston Beaneaters, and Collins put up a .925 fielding average the rest of the way. He went back to Boston the following season.

Kemmer had a long minor league career in addition to his brief stay in the majors. He played at least 17 seasons in pro ball.