Gene Kimball

Eugene Boynton Kimball

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown
• Height 5' 10", Weight 160 lb.
• Debut May 4, 1871
• Final Game September 27, 1871
• Born August 31, 1850 in Rochester, NY USA
• Died August 2, 1882 in Rochester, NY USA

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Biographical Information

Gene Kimball, from Rochester, NY, was the second baseman on the 1871 Cleveland Forest Citys in the first year of the National Association. In what is called the first professional game (the first game in the first professional league), Deacon White hit a double, and then Kimball hit a line shot to the second baseman who then caught White off base for a double play.

Another event in that same game was remembered by the Sports Illustrated issue of April 5, 2004, which noted that Kimball did a "LIRPA, for Leadoff of Inning after Remarkable Putout or Assist". Kimball made a good grab of a pop-up in the third inning and then led off the fourth.

A full resume of the first game can be found here. Kimball batted second in the lineup.

Kimball had previously played for the 1870 Forest City team, prior to formation of the National Association. Baseball historian Peter Morris says that Kimball played even before that in his native Rochester, NY, and became more famous as a professional billiard player than as a baseball player.

Related Sites

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