Matt Kilroy

Matthew Aloysius Kilroy
(Matches)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 9", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut April 17, 1886
• Final Game August 17, 1898
• Born June 21, 1866 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died March 2, 1940 in Philadelphia, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Matt Kilroy is best known as the pitcher with the most strikeouts in a single season, striking out 513 batters in 1886. Kilroy pitched with the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association from 1886 to 1989 and won 121 games, including 46 games in the 1887 season. When his arm was no longer as effective, he played infield and outfield in the majors, minors and with independent teams, along with sometimes pitching.

He left the Orioles in 1890 to join the Boston Reds of the ill-fated Players League, where he went 9-15 with a 4.26 ERA in 30 games. After the Players League folded, Kilroy returned to the American Association in 1891 playing with the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers, appearing in just 7 games, going 1-4 with a 2.98 ERA. Kilroy moved to the Washington Senators of the National League in 1892, where injuries continued to take a toll on him, as he appeared in just 4 games, going 1-1 with a 2.39 ERA.

Kilroy jumped to the Louisville Colonels in 1893, where he spent two seasons going 3-7 with an 6.37 ERA in 13 games. He finished his career with the Chicago Orphans in 1898 going 6-7 with an 4.31 ERA in 13 games, in which was his best season since 1890 in terms of workload, if not in ERA+.

Kilroy was in 12 games in the outfield in 1898, and the following season appeared in 50 games in the outfield at Hartford. He umpired one American Association game in 1887.

After retiring, Kilroy ran a saloon in Philadelphia, PA near Shibe Park until his death in 1940. His brother Mike Kilroy also pitched in the majors. His son, also called Matt, played independent ball in 1907 and, on the recommendation of Connie Mack, was given a try with a minor league team in 1908.

"Pitcher Terry says he once saw Matt Kilroy catch nine men napping off first base in one game. Matt was the best that ever lived for that sort of thing." - Sporting Life, July 6, 1895, apparently quoting Adonis Terry

Notable Achievements

• AA Wins Leader (1887)
• 2-time AA Games Pitched Leader (1886 & 1887)
• AA Innings Pitched Leader (1887)
• AA Strikeouts Leader (1886)
• 3-time AA Complete Games Leader (1886, 1887 & 1889)
• AA Shutouts Leader (1887)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 3 (1886, 1887 & 1889)
• 30 Wins Seasons: 1 (1887)
• 40 Wins Seasons: 1 (1887)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 5 (1886-1890)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1886-1889)
• 400 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1886, 1887 & 1889)
• 500 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1886 7 1887)
• 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 3 (1886, 1887 & 1889)
• 300 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1886)
• 400 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1886)
• 500 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1886)

Records Held

• Strikeouts, season, 513, 1886

Further Reading

• Ted Patterson, "The Baltimore Orioles: Four Decades of Magic from 33rd Street to Camden Yards", Taylor Publishing, 2000, p. 3

Related Sites

• Matt Kilroy at the SABR Bio Project