Bill Kennedy (kennebi02)

William Aulton Kennedy
(Lefty)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2½", Weight 195 lb.
• High School South High School (Akron)
• Debut April 26, 1948
• Final Game September 29, 1957
• Born March 14, 1921 in Carnesville, GA USA
• Died April 9, 1983 in Seattle, WA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Before his big-league career, Bill Kennedy had arguably the greatest season ever by a minor-league pitcher. In 1946, playing for the Rocky Mount Rocks in the Coastal Plains League, Kennedy went 28-3 with 1.03 ERA. He had 456 strikeouts in 280 innings pitched.

Bill Kennedy pitched 19 seasons in organized ball from 1939 to 1960, 8 in the Major Leagues and 16 in the minors, losing three years to the military. He served in the U.S. Army for three years during World War II (BN). Upon his discharge from the service on March 2, 1946, he was made a free agent and signed with Columbus in the American Association. From 1948 through 1957 he pitched in 172 games for the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Redlegs.

He was a bartender at the Ballard Eagle's Lodge in Seattle, WA. He died from lung cancer at age 62 and is buried at Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery in Seattle.

Notable Achievements

• AL Games Pitched Leader (1952)

Related Sites

• Bill Kennedy at the SABR Bio Project