Ray Kennedy

Nearly 1,700 ballplayers have appeared in but a single major league game. Ray Kennedy, a catcher by trade, was one of those one-game wonders. At age 21, on September 8, 1916, he pinch-hit for the St. Louis Browns at Detroit’s Navin Field. Yet despite only three minutes on that hallowed diamond, Kennedy gave his heart and soul to baseball for over 50 years, right up to the moment of his death.

Raymond Lincoln Kennedy was born on May 19, 1895, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was born to machinist Abraham Lincoln Kennedy and his wife Ida (née Fairfield). He had an older sister named Caroline.1 The family lived on Excelsior Street in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood before moving a block away to Millbridge Street. In 1914, Ida Kennedy passed away at the age of 49 from apoplexy.2 After her death the Kennedys moved to Brownsville Road in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood.

The first newsprint mention of Kennedy was in a box score dated May 28, 1911, catching and batting cleanup for the Beltzhoover Amateurs.3 The Beltzhoover Athletic Club produced an abundance of baseball talent. In addition to Kennedy, those fruitful grounds sent Hans Lobert, Frank Lobert, Otto Knabe, Bill Doak, Elmer Knetzer, Joe Schultz, Jimmy Pastorius, Lew Moren, Enos Kirkpatrick, and Otto Jordan to the big leagues.4

As one would expect for a catcher, the 5-foot-9, 165-pound Kennedy was a right-handed batter and thrower. On March 16, 1913, the 17-year-old was signed to his first professional contract by the Steubenville (Ohio) Stubs of the Class B Inter-State League.5 In a game on May 8 against the Canton Senators, a beaning rendered him unconscious.6 Otherwise, only a few box scores survive to document Kennedy’s action with Steubenville – his stay with the Stubs was short-lived. By the end of May, Kennedy was on the roster of the independent Reynoldsville (Pennsylvania) nine.7

In January 1914, Kennedy was signed by the Binghamton Bingos of the Class B New York State League but given his release prior to the start of the season.8 He was then engaged by the Racine (Wisconsin) Malted Milks of the Class C Wisconsin-Illinois League.9 However, he lasted there only until mid-May – it was determined he needed more experience at a lower level.10 Kennedy returned to Pennsylvania, where he played briefly with an independent team in Brookville.11 He then returned to Organized Baseball with the Erie (Pennsylvania) Yankees of the Class B Canadian League in early June.12 His stay at Erie was brief, though; by the end of June he is back in Brookville playing the hot corner.13

Kennedy’s services for 1915 were again secured by Binghamton, which farmed him out to the Olean (New York) White Sox of the Inter-State League (by then a Class D circuit).14 There, Kennedy placed among receiving leaders with a .977 fielding percentage.15 He batted .280 (70-for-250) in 72 games.

In March 1916 Kennedy was released by Binghamton16 and promptly signed by Olean. But thereafter, he remained in Western Pennsylvania and played for the independent Allegheny Steel team.17 He returned to Olean as interim manager after club skipper Gus Dundon was struck by a motorcycle.18 On July 1, Kennedy assumed full-time duty as “boy manager” of the White Sox.19 Ten days later, the financially troubled Olean club disbanded.20

Initially, Kennedy (who had become a free agent) signed with a different Inter-State League club, the Erie Sailors, but a salary dispute quickly arose. A week later, manager Fielder Jones of the St. Louis Browns inked Kennedy and assigned him to yet another Inter-State League team, the Wellsville (New York) Rainmakers.21 Kennedy finished out the league schedule there, batting well (52-for-177, .293) while posting middle-of-the-pack defensive numbers (.965 fielding percentage)  in 58 games.22

After Wellsville completed its season, the 21-year-old was called up by the Browns. A St. Louis sportswriter compared Kennedy to future Hall of Famer Ray Schalk of the Chicago White Sox, opining that he looked like a first division player.23

Kennedy entered the major league record book on September 8, sent up to pinch-hit for Ward Miller in the eighth inning of an away game against the Detroit Tigers. Facing veteran left-hander Willie Mitchell, Ray grounded out to Ralph Young at second base. He then trotted back to the dugout, never to play on a big-league field again.

Kennedy accompanied the team to Chicago but saw no action in the ensuing three-game set against the White Sox.24 After the series, he was sent back to the minors for further development.25

In 1917 the Browns assigned Kennedy to the Little Rock Travelers of the Class A Southern Association.26 He stayed with the team until conscripted for military service in August.27 Prior to his departure for boot camp, the popular catcher was feted with a “Kennedy Day.” The Arkansas Democrat proclaimed, “Traveler fans regret seeing Ray leave. By his hard-working methods he has won a place in the hearts of the Traveler fans and was one of the most popular players to ever play at Kavanaugh Field.”28

In April 1918, Kennedy made a stop home in Pittsburgh as a member of the 319th Field Artillery Regiment baseball team of Camp Lee, Virginia. The appearance was part of the team’s string of exhibition games against the local sandlot nines before heading to France. Behind the pitching of former Federal League standout Elmer Knetzer, the Grayber club of McKees Rocks downed the soldiers, 11-4.29

According to Kennedy’s Veterans Compensation Application, he achieved the rank of sergeant and served in France from May 18, 1918, to June 2, 1919. He saw action during the decisive St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives (the latter was the same conflict that took the life of fellow Western Pennsylvanian Bun Troy). Kennedy was honorably discharged on June 13, 1919.30

Upon repatriation, Kennedy rejoined the Little Rock Travelers, but his stay was brief. In mid-July he was sold to the Greenville (South Carolina) Spinners of the Class C South Atlantic League. Kennedy’s stint with that club was highlighted by an August 7 game in Columbia, South Carolina. During the course of a 13-8 Greenville victory, Kennedy – playing second base, as he would do more regularly later in his career – stabbed a line drive to save a run on defense. At the plate, he went 4-for 5, with two triples in the fourth inning alone and a home run, drawing a standing ovation by the rival Comer fans.31 In 47 games with Greenville, Kennedy batted .250 (41-for-164).

As the 1920 season opened, Kennedy served as temporary manager of the Spinners until the club settled upon Joseph O’Rourke.32 After playing in 26 games, Kennedy (hitting just .239) was released by Greenville on June 3.33 He finished the summer playing second base and acting as team captain for the Thomson, Georgia, entry in the semipro Million Dollar League.34

In 1921, Kennedy returned to the South Atlantic League, wearing the colors of the Charlotte Hornets.35 In 120 games, he batted a respectable .274 but finished the season relegated to backup catcher behind rookie Luke Urban.36

The 1922 season brought Kennedy back to Pennsylvania, traded to the Reading Aces of the top-tier minor International League for former major league catcher Harry Smith.37 It was a very short stay, however – he was released when May rolled around.38 He was quickly snatched up by the Newport News Shipbuilders of the Class B Virginia League,39 where he finished out the season.

After bouncing around, Kennedy found some stability, spending the 1923 through 1927 seasons back with Charlotte. Feeling comfortable, he made Charlotte his home and opened a cigar store.40 During his second Hornets stint, he also married Blanche M. Shuman on September 13, 1924.41 A few years later, the couple’s only child, daughter Mildred Ann, was born.42 On the day of her birth, her father drove in the winning run in the final frame as the Hornets defeated rival Asheville, 2-1.43

During his five-season run with Charlotte, Kennedy split time between second base and catcher. Offensively, he had over 100 or more hits in each of these seasons. This included hammering out 58 home runs, with a career-best 19 in 1925. It was noted after the 1926 season that “Ray has clouted the apple hard all the time and his play around second base stood out the last three seasons.”44 In March 1924 he assumed the post of playing manager, guiding Charlotte to a close second-place finish.45 By 1925 he was recognized as “one of the keenest pilots in the minors.”46 That season, the Hornets were again edged at the pennant wire, this time by the Spartanburg (South Carolina) Spartans.47

Kennedy’s 1926 team got off slowly. Even ending the campaign with a seven-game winning streak placed Charlotte no higher than fifth place in final SALLY League standings. The following season, club fortunes continued to sink. The Hornets fell to sixth place, as manager Kennedy closed his everyday playing days with a .265 batting average (with only five homers) for the 72-78 (.480) club. A month later, he resigned his duties as Charlotte manager. In early December, Kennedy signed with a SALLY League rival, the Asheville (North Carolina) Tourists.48

In his first appearance against his old Charlotte team in 1928, Kennedy caught the entire game and got two hits in a 10-5 Asheville win. In part-time duty for the pennant-winning Tourists, he posted a personal-best.366 average (79-for-216).49 Thereafter, he registered the Tourists’ only base hit in the deciding game of the postseason Dixie Championship, which the Tourists lost to the Southeastern League champion Montgomery (Alabama) Lions.50

Prior to the start of the 1928 season, Ernie Phillips of the Asheville Times wrote an article titled, “And What Kind Of Guy Is Ray Kennedy?” In the body, Phillips observed, “We come to find out that baseball to Kennedy is a profession, and clubhouse chatter is all about the game. Where players are expected to hustle ‘until they are ready to drop in their tracks from physical exhaustion.’ There is no loafing about between the white lines, as Kennedy expounds that foolishness ends when the season begins. He is described as a small but powerful bundle of energy that does not like his players standing around, and when they do, he picks up a fungo bat and forces them to chase pop-ups. His is a man of discipline, ‘who is driving his men hard in spring training and who promises to put a hustling, snappy club into the coming flag race.’”51

Kennedy returned to the Asheville helm in 1929, guiding the Tourists during another tight SALLY League title chase. In the last game of the year, the Knoxville Smokies beat the Tourists 7-1 to claim the pennant in a split-season playoff.52 Again seeing part-time playing duty, Kennedy posted a .282 batting average.53

Keeping his business mind sharp during the offseason, Kennedy worked as an auditor for the firm of Dunbar and Company back in Charlotte.54 That winter, however, he and club management were unable to come to terms on a new contract, ending Kennedy’s time in Asheville.55

In May 1930, Kennedy returned to the Charlotte Hornets, filling a temporary roster gap at second base. Cut on May 12,56 he intended to remain in town to work with kids and manage the local junior league. But on June 1, he rejoined the professional ranks, engaged as player/manager for the Pensacola (Florida) Fliers in the Southeastern League. By late-season, the team was in last place; Kennedy and his .232 batting average were jettisoned on August 27.57 An 18-season playing career had now come to a close.

In 1931, Kennedy assumed control of the Asheville Tourists as club president and field leader, managing the team to a fourth-place (66-67, .496) finish in the Class C Piedmont League. But when the Asheville franchise was sold to Louisville of the American Association, Kennedy severed his connection to the club.58

Upon recommendation by St. Louis Cardinals farm system director Branch Rickey, Kennedy was engaged as business manager of the International League’s Jersey City Skeeters in March 1932.59 But in late April, the Brooklyn Dodgers took control of the financially ailing Skeeters;60 Kennedy was discharged shortly thereafter. He resurfaced in 1933 as business manager of the Binghamton Triplets of the New York-Pennsylvania League, a New York Yankees minor league affiliate superintended by future Hall of Fame executive George Weiss.61  Managed by former major league backstop Billy Meyer, the Triplets (79-55, .590) captured the NYPL crown by an eyelash over the Reading Red Sox (80-56, .588).

Kennedy’s contribution to Binghamton’s success prompted his promotion to team secretary of the Newark Bears of the International League, the Yankees’ premier farm club. Weiss heaped praise on Kennedy for installing turnstiles in Binghamton, in addition to other improvements. “He had a wealth of ideas about special features in connection with the conduct of a ball club,” stated Weiss.62 The new assignment brought Kennedy’s nomadic ways to an end: his stay with Newark lasted almost 11 years. During that time, the Bears were a minor league powerhouse, capturing five International League pennants and the Little World Series in 1937.

Kennedy wore two hats in Newark – he also scouted talent for the Yankees. In 1941, he signed pitcher Jack Robinson from nearby Orange, New Jersey.

In November 1945, Kennedy was named the very first general manager of his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates.63 Nine months later, the decades-long Barney Dreyfuss ownership era ended when the Pirates were sold.64 The new club owners were a consortium of banker Frank McKinney, crooner Bing Crosby, attorney Robert Johnson, and real estate magnate John Galbreath.65 Kennedy retained his general manager status briefly before being replaced by H. Roy Hamey. However, Kennedy remained with the organization as farm director.66 His duties also continued to include scouting; in this capacity, he signed slugger Frank Thomas for Pittsburgh in 1947.

Finding the continuous travel too burdensome, Kennedy resigned two years later, in November 1948.67 From his East End Avenue home in Pittsburgh’s tony Regent Square neighborhood, Kennedy then pursued other baseball opportunities, accepting the position of farm director for the Detroit Tigers.68 At his side was his personal secretary, 21-year-old daughter Mildred, a storehouse of baseball knowledge.69

Kennedy was discharged by Detroit in October 1951. Defending his time there, he stated, “I just want to make it clear, I was fired and didn’t resign.” He continued, “Despite some reports to the contrary, our farm system is as good as any in baseball.”70 His stated opinion was that it takes an average of five years to have a player major league ready, and his three years there was not sufficient to complete this process.71 Opting to stay out of the game for the time being, he moved to Sanford, Florida, and opened a laundromat.

Kennedy was lured back to baseball in December 1954 when he accepted a position as director of player personnel for the Kansas City Athletics.72 It was the franchise’s first year in its new home after moving from Philadelphia. In May 1955, Kennedy inked Kansas City’s first bonus baby. Teenager Clete Boyer was signed for close to $50,000 and joined his brother Cloyd on the A’s roster.73 Later that season, another Kennedy signing – 16-year-old shortstop Alex George – got into five games for Kansas City.

Kennedy resigned a year later. No immediate cause was given for the decision.74 Farm director Hank Peters assumed some of Kennedy’s duties.75 Business manager Parke Carroll took charge of contract affairs.76

Five years later, Kennedy abandoned retirement to join the scouting staff of the newly formed New York Mets.77 His task was to identify prospects from the central Florida region. His most notable signing for the Mets was pitcher Jerry Johnson.

Kennedy remained in this position until his death from complications of the flu on January 18, 1969, in Casselberry, Florida.78 He missed by nine months the World Series victory of the “Miracle Mets.”

Kennedy’s remains were interred at the Glen Haven Memorial Park and Mausoleum in nearby Winter Park. Survivors included wife Blanche, who lived to the age of 101 and was later buried at his side.79 After hearing of the former Asheville manager’s death, former Tourists pitcher Charles “Struttin’ Bud” Shaney said that to every kid in Asheville in 1928, “Ray Kennedy was next to God.”80

Acknowledgments

This biography was reviewed by Bill Lamb and Rory Costello and fact-checked by Paul Proia. Thanks also to Rod Nelson of SABR’s Scouts Committee.

Photo credit: Ray Kennedy, courtesy of the author.

Sources

In addition to the sources shown in the Notes, the author used the following:

Find A Grave; https://www.findagrave.com/

Retrosheet; https://www.retrosheet.org/

Baseball Reference; https://www.baseball-reference.com/

Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/

Newspapers: http://www.newspapers.com/

Email correspondence from Giamatti Research Center, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Damer, Edward, Thirty-Three in Twenty-Three; The World of Rube Parnham and Other Baseball Stories, Kindle Direct Publishing, 3d ed., 2022.

Notes

1 1910 United States Federal Census for Raymond Kennedy, Ancestry.

2 Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1973 for Ida M Kennedy, Ancestry.

3 “Cobbs Win Listless Game,” Pittsburgh Post, May 28, 1911: Section 3, Page 4.

4 “Bucs Install Kennedy Today,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 2, 1946: 14.

5 “Many Players Signed by Steubenville Club,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, March 17, 1913: 8.

6 “Interstate League,” Cincinnati Enquirer, May 9, 1913: 10.

7 “On Independent Baseball Circuit,” Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, May 18, 1913: Section 3, Page 5.

8 “Bingo Recruits Get Pink Slips,” Binghamton (New York) Press, March 6, 1914: 17.

9 “Menominee Is Anxious,” Daily Oshkosh (Wisconsin) Northwestern, February 7, 1914: 11.

10 “Who’s Who on the Racine Baseball Team,” Racine Journal, May 7, 1914: 1, 14.

11 “Bits of News,” Punxsutawney (Pennsylvania) Spirit, May 28, 1914: 5.

12 “Kennedy Leaves,” Punxsutawney Spirit, June 3, 1914: 1.

13 “Ray Kennedy Now Guarding Third Sack,” Brookville Republican, June 25, 1914: 1.

14 “Has Binghamton String on Three White Sox Men?” Olean (New York) Evening Herald, November 8, 1915: 8.

15 “White Sox Led Interstate League in All Departments,” Olean Evening Herald, October 1, 1915: 6.

16 “Sport Film Flickers,” Elmira (New York) Star-Gazette, March 13, 1916: 8.

17 Richard Guy, “In Sport World,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, April 15, 1916: 11.

18 “Gus Dundon Returns to the Hospital,” Olean Evening Herald, May 18, 1916: 8.

19 “Kennedy Picked to Manage the Olean White Sox,” Olean Evening Herald, July 1, 1916: 9.

20 “Olean Quits Interstate Circuit,” Olean Evening Herald, July 10, 1916: 6.

21 “World of Sport,” Warren Evening Times, July 28, 1916: 3.

22 Per Inter-State League statistics published in the 1917 Reach Official American League Guide, 227. Baseball-Reference provides no defensive numbers for Kennedy’s 1916 season.

23 L. C. Davis, “Sport Salad,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 9, 1916: 6.

24 Clarence F. Lloyd, “Jones Still Has Hopes of Heading of Pacemakers,” St. Louis Star, September 14, 1916: 13.

25 Clarence F. Lloyd, “Lucky for League Jonesmen Delayed Spurt until July,” St. Louis Star, September 16, 1916: 9.

26 “Lil’ Sunshine Now and They’ll Start,” (Little Rock) Arkansas Gazette, March 6, 1917: 10.

27 “Ray Kennedy Will Be a U.S. Soldier,” Arkansas Gazette, August 11, 1917: 10.

28 W. N. Stone, “Kennedy Day Will Be Held Saturday,” Arkansas Democrat, August 14, 1917: 11.

29 “Camp Lee’s Soldiers Lose to Grayber’s, 11-4,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, April 29, 1918: 10.

30 Pennsylvania, U.S., World War I Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948 for Raymond L Kennedy, Ancestry.

31 “Greenville Takes the Opening Game,” Columbia (South Carolina) Record, August 8, 1919: 9.

32 “Greenville Fans Feel Happy Again,” Columbia Record, April 17, 1920: 3.

33 “Ray Kennedy Released,” (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union, June 4, 1920: 8.

34 “Second Game of Series to Be Played in Washington Today; Thomson Wins,” Atlanta Journal, August 31, 1920: 19.

35 Eddie Brietz, “Up to the Minute Sports News and Gossip,” Charlotte Observer, December 17, 1920: 14.

36 K. B. Crandall, “Sports,” Charlotte Observer, November 7, 1921: 9.

37 K. B. Crandall, “Ray Kennedy Traded to Reading Club for Harry Smith,” Charlotte Observer, February 10, 1922: 12.

38 “Three Reading Players Are Released,” Reading (Pennsylvania) News-Times, May 3, 1922: 11.

39 “Builders Find Themselves and Hand Colts a Drubbing,” Daily Newport (Virginia) Press, May 10, 1922: 9.

40 Fred Alger, “Periscoping the Independent Circuit,” Pittsburgh Sunday Post, March 16, 1924: Section 3, Page 9.

41 Mecklenburg Marriage Licenses (1866 – 1962), Ancestry.

42 “Ray Kennedy Is Father of Baby Daughter,” Charlotte News, August 12, 1927: 15.

43 Jake Wade, “Hornets Flatten Tourists, 2-1, In Fast Contest,” Charlotte Observer, August 13, 1927: 12.

44 Edward V. Mitchell, “Fist Affixed To Contract For One Year,” Charlotte News, December 12, 1926: C7.

45 Bailey Groome, “Tygers Win Out by Eight Points as Hornets Split Even on Last Day,” Charlotte Observer, September 4, 1924: 10.

46 “When Youth and Age Clash,” Charlotte Observer, August 13, 1925: 12.

47 “Spartans Win Sally Pennant and Meet Richmond,” Charlotte Observer, September 13, 1925: 15.

48 Edward V. Mitchell, “Speaking of Sports,” Charlotte News, December 2, 1927: 18.

49 “Averages of Teams in South Atlantic,” Charlotte Observer, September 17, 1928: 10.

50 “Montgomery Wins Dixie Class B Title,” Charlotte Observer, September 27, 1928: 15.

51 Ernie Phillips, “The Sport-O-Log,” Asheville Times, March 25, 1928: 11.

52 “Tourists Lose Flag to Smokies, 7-1,” Asheville (North Carolina) Citizen, September 19, 1929: 14.

53 “Knoxville Due to Win, Loop Averages Show,” Knoxville (Tennessee) News-Sentinel, September 8, 1929: 11.

54 “Where Tourists May Be Found During Off Season,” Asheville Times, September 23, 1929: 11.

55 Wade Ison, “Ray Kennedy Passes By Asheville Managerial Job,” Charlotte News, November 24, 1929: 10.

56 “Hornets Cut Squad to Get Within Limit,” Charlotte Observer, May 13, 1930: 14.

57 “Three Fliers Dismissed as Season Wanes,” Pensacola (Florida) Journal, August 28, 1930: 5.

58 A. L. Banister, “Louisville Men Arrive for Meeting,” Asheville Times, December 19, 1931: 9.

59 “Kennedy Is Named Business Manager,” Bayonne (New Jersey) Times, March 17, 1932: 8.

60 “Brooklyn Dodgers Officially Take Over Jersey City Club Today,” Bayonne Times, April 27, 1932: 8.

61 “Kennedy Is Elected Executive of Trips,” Elmira Star-Gazette, February 9, 1933: 19.

62 Al Lamb, “Spinning the Top,” Binghamton Press, January 13, 1934: 12.

63 “General Manager Named by Bucs,” Pittsburgh Press, November 8, 1945: 27.

64 Al Abrams, “Sidelights on Sports,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 31, 1946: 14.

65 Bob Drum, “You Knew Hoosier Would Buy Bucs? So’d Others!” Pittsburgh Press, August 9, 1946: 28.

66 Charles J. Doyle, “Roy Hamey To Direct Pirates,” Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, September 15, 1946: 24.

67 “Chief of Buc Farm System Quits,” Pittsburgh Press, November 3, 1948: 32.

68 “Kennedy Takes Tiger Position,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 29, 1948: 14.

69 Roy McHugh, “Dad’s Homers on Day of Her Birth Put Mildred Kennedy in Baseball,” Pittsburgh Press, March 6, 1949: 32.

70 “Tigers Oust Kennedy as Farm System Director,” Detroit Free Press, October 17, 1951” 18.

71 Lyall Smith, “As Of Today,” Detroit Free Press, October 21, 1951: C2.

72 “Ray Kennedy Gets Post at Kansas City,” Scranton (Pennsylvania) Tribune, December 2, 1954: 23.

73 Ernest Mehl, “A’s Sign First Bonus Baby,” Kansas City Times, May 31, 1955: 29.

74 “Quits A’s Job,” Kansas City Star, December 21, 1955: 32.

75 “Kennedy Quits as K.C. Player Chief,” The Sporting News, December 28, 1955: 4.

76 Ernest Mehl, “A’s Davance Sale Setting Faster Pace,” The Sporting News, January 18, 1956: 6.

77 “Mets Add Scouts,” Rockland County (New York) Journal-News, November 21, 1961: 23.

78 “Met Scout Kennedy Dies,” Orlando Sentinel, January 20, 1969: 26.

79 Find A Grave indicates 1901-2004, which conflicts with SSN records from Ancestry.

80 Richard Morris, “Ray L. Kennedy,” Asheville Citizen, January 28, 1969: 12.