Herb Kelly

Herbert Barrett Kelly
(Moke)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 9", Weight 160 lb.
• School University of Notre Dame
• Debut September 21, 1914
• Final Game September 6, 1915
• Born June 4, 1892 in Mobile, AL USA
• Died May 18, 1973 in Torrance, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Herb Kelly had five years in pro ball, appearing in ten games during two seasons in the majors. Pitching mostly in relief during his time in the bigs, his one major league victory came when he relieved Al Mamaux on August 31, 1915 for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Brooklyn Robins. Herb pitched two innings, facing eight batters. His teammates that day included Honus Wagner and Max Carey, while the Robins that day featured Casey Stengel, Zack Wheat and Jake Daubert.

Herb had been at the University of Notre Dame in 1912-1914, and his time there overlapped with that of Cy Williams. Herb had already pitched in the minors with the Johnson City Soldiers in 1911, winning 17 games, and also pitched in the minors in 1915-1917. For the New Orleans Pelicans in 1917, he went 12-6.

The BR minor league database may be incomplete. An article in the St. Charles Herald (Hahnville, LA), on May 22, 1920, stated that "little southpaw" Herb Kelly, who had been in the Southern League for several years, would not be pitching in 1920.

Herb got attention for being little. In addition to the mention above, the Morning Oregonian, June 20, 1916, referred to pitcher Wee Willie Mitchell as being "not much larger than Herb Kelly".

The SABR biography of Rupert Mills states that rumors about several Notre Dame players, including Mills and Kelly, supposedly signing major league contracts in 1913, were dealt with by the University insisting on the players signing affidavits that they had not done so.