Hall-of-Famer Willie Keeler was born on this day in 1872, in Brooklyn, New York.
He signed with and debuted for the New York Giants in 1892 and quickly earned a reputation for his remarkable hitting ability, famously adopting the motto, "Hit 'em where they ain't."
Keeler was a key player in the Baltimore Orioles' National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896 and later contributed significantly to the Brooklyn Superbas' league championships in 1899 and 1900.
Keeler had eight consecutive seasons with 200 hits or more. In 1896-97, he had a 45-game hitting streak that was the record that Joe DiMaggio broke in 1941. His career achievements included leading the league in batting average twice and amassing nearly 3,000 hits, with a career batting average of .341.
Keeler was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939.
Happy birthday, Willie!
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