Harry Kelley

Harry Leroy Kelley

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9½", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut April 16, 1925
• Final Game July 23, 1939
• Born February 13, 1906 in Parkin, AR USA
• Died March 23, 1958 in Parkin, AR USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Harry Kelley played for the Memphis Chicks in 1924, going 14-7 with a 2.87 ERA. He spent part of the next two years, 1925 and 1926, with the Washington Senators, appearing 13 big league games over that span. In 1927, he returned to Memphis, where he stayed until 1934. He was sold to the Atlanta Crackers towards the end of the 1934 season for $5,500. It was thought that the Cincinnati Reds were interested and might draft him in the 1934 Rule V Draft, but they passed. The Toronto Maple Leafs then took him in the AA phase of that same draft... for $4,500. Cracker president Earl Mann, faced with being short $1,000, appealed to Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis that Toronto was drafting on behalf of the Reds, with whom they had a working agreement, and demanded either the $6,000 major league draft price, or to have Kelley back. Landis sent Kelley back to Atlanta. Kelley went 23-13, leading the Southern Association in wins for pennant-winning Atlanta in 1935, then was drafted by the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1935 Rule V Draft.

Kelly got another shot in the majors with the Athletics in 1936 and made the most of it, going 15-12 with a 3.87 ERA as a 30-year-old rookie. He was not as good in 1937, as he led the American League with 21 losses and saw his ERA balloon to 5.36, but he was still a workhorse, pitching over 200 innings for the secons straight season. He remained in the majors through 1939 and played for Memphis once again in 1943. He ended his career with the Indianapolis Indians in 1944.

Kelley was 277-202 in the minors, with 206 wins coming in the Southern Association, where he was a five-time 20-game winner.

Notable Achievements

• 15 Wins Seasons: 1 (1936)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1936 & 1937)

Career Highlights

• Led 1933 Southern Association with 21 wins
• Led 1934 Southern Association with 23 wins
• Led 1935 Southern Association with 23 wins and 2.50 ERA