Rudy Kemmler

Rudolph Kemmler born Rudolph Kemler

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Debut July 26, 1879
• Final Game August 11, 1889
• Born January 1860 in Chicago, IL USA
• Died June 20, 1909 in Chicago, IL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Rudy Kemmler was a good defensive catcher who moreover had the virtue of being quite durable in the days before catchers had protection against pitched balls. He played eight years in the majors and other years in the minors.

The book A Fine-Looking Lot of Ball-Tossers has a page of text on him. Kemmler was with Akron from late in 1880 through 1881. He played every Akron game in 1881. While with Columbus in 1883 he caught more games than any other player in the league. He also played in the minors with Duluth and Davenport, and was part of an "amateur" club that won the Illinois state championship (the pitcher was Nat Hudson). He became a laborer after his baseball days and when he died the extremely gnarled condition of his hands was noted.