Mick Kelleher
Mick Kelleher | ||
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Runs batted in | 65 | |
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As player
As coach | ||
Career highlights and awards | ||
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Michael Dennis Kelleher (born July 25, 1947) is an American former
Playing career
St. Louis Cardinals
Kelleher was taken out of the
Houston Astros
Kelleher's contract was sold by the Cardinals to the Houston Astros on October 26, 1973.[5] He spent most of the season in the minors with the Denver Bears, but had two stints with the big league club that year.[6]
St. Louis Cardinals (second stint)
After the 1974 season, the Cardinals purchased him back from the Astros.[7]
Chicago Cubs
On December 22, 1975, the Chicago Cubs acquired Kelleher for Vic Harris.[8] His most notable moment as an active major-league player happened in the second inning of a 9–4 Cubs win over the San Diego Padres in the second game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field on August 7, 1977. The 5–9, 170-pound Kelleher fought 6–6, 210-pound Dave Kingman who had successfully broken up a double-play attempt with a hard slide after being hit by a Steve Renko pitch. The ensuing bench-clearing brawl resulted in the ejections of both Kelleher and Kingman.[9] The two became teammates the following season, after Kingman signed with the Cubs as a free agent.
Detroit Tigers
On April 1, 1981, the Detroit Tigers purchased Kelleher from the Cubs.[10]
California Angels
On April 21, 1982, the
Playing in 622 games, Kelleher recorded a career .213 batting average in 1,081 at bats. He is the most recently retired non-pitcher to have more than 1,000 at-bats and no home runs.
Coaching career
Kelleher continued to work in major league baseball after his playing career ended, becoming a minor league coach and scout. He served as first base, base running, and infield coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986, but was dismissed after the season.[12][13]
In 2001, Kelleher was a roving infield instructor with the New York Yankees. During this time, he worked with an 18-year-old Robinson Canó, who had just transitioned to second base.[14] He served as first base coach for the Detroit Tigers from 2003 to 2005.[15] He left after manager Alan Trammell was fired and replaced by Jim Leyland.[16]
He was hired to serve as first base coach and infield coordinator for the major league team before the 2009 season.[17] Kelleher worked extensively with Eduardo Nunez to improve his throws to first base and cut down on errors.[18][19]
Kelleher spent six seasons with the team, and was a member of their coaching staff during the 2009 World Series. On October 10, 2014, the Yankees announced Kelleher would not return for the 2015 season.[20][21] He subsequently retired from baseball on October 20.[22][23]
Personal life
Kelleher is an avid tennis fan. After retiring in 1982, he took up tennis and played in competitive leagues during the offseason. He also attends the US Open every year.[24]
References
- ^ "1969 St. Louis Cardinals Draft Class - The Baseball Cube". TheBaseballCube.com. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Vass, George (March 1973). "Exclusive Scouting Reports on 1973 Major League Rookies". Baseball Digest. p. 90.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Donovan, Loretta. "Dal Maxvill". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Kraczkowski, Kevin (November 4, 2023). "Everystros Countdown: Chapter XI". The Crawfish Boxes. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ "1974 Major League Baseball Transactions". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ "Cubs Gain Split With San Diego". The Washington Post. August 7, 1977. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ "1982 Major League Baseball Transactions". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ "The Pittsburgh Pirates have hired Tommy Sandt as the..." UPI. October 16, 1986. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Price, Ed (November 5, 2008). "Kelleher could join Yankees' coaching staff". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ "Tigers pounce quickly, hire Leyland to manage". ESPN.com. October 4, 2005. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Shpigel, Ben (June 20, 2011). "Nunez Fills In for Jeter With Hits, Errors, Hope". Bats. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Martin, Dan (October 10, 2014). "Yankees fire hitting coach Kevin Long". New York Post. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ "The Yankees have fired hitting coach Kevin Long and first base coach Mick Kelleher". Sports Illustrated. October 10, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Kuty, Brendan (October 20, 2014). "Ex-Yankees coach Mick Kelleher retiring". NJ.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ Gleeman, Aaron (October 20, 2014). "Fired by the Yankees, Mick Kelleher is retiring". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet