Another case of mistaken identity..B18 Kelley

[Vintagecatcher]

So who is the player displayed in the 1914 B18 set named Kelley, who played for Pittsburgh?

Lets look at the facts!

I've heard people identify the player as former catcher, Billy Kelly, Marty O'Toole's battery mate.

This B18 doesn't show a catcher. The player is clearly wearing a much smaller first basemen's mitt. In addition, Billy Kelly last year with Pittsburgh was 1912.

In 1914, there was no one with the last name Kelley on the 1914 Pirates, but there was three players named Kelly!

The trio included: pitcher Herb Kelly, right fielder Jim Kelly, and first year player and outfielder Joe Kelly.

So my theory is the player shown on the 1914 B18 is HOF first baseman Joe Kelley! (Note the prominent ears and the cleft chin.)

HOFer Joe Kelley's image was used instead of first year Pirates outfielder Joe Kelly! The first baseman's glove and incorrect spelling are the keys!

Patrick

[spec]

Patrick is right on in declaring the B18 blanket does not depict catcher Billy Kelly. Though Kelly did play for the Pirates through 1913, he doesn't resemble the B18 image, which clearly shows the player wearing something other than a catcher's mitt.
However, the Baseball Reference image of Joseph H. Kelly (see below) looks very much like the B18 likeness and since he was the Pirates' regular center fielder in 1914, it seems more likely that is whom they intended to portray.
Unless we find a photograph of Hall of Famer Joseph J. Kelley that matches this image, it seems a bit of a reach to connect this blanket to the HOFer, especially since he last played in the majors in 1908, last played in the minors in 1910 and only appeared for Pittsburgh briefly in 1892.


https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...ellyjo03.shtml

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by spec

Patrick is right on in declaring the B18 blanket does not depict catcher Billy Kelly. Though Kelly did play for the Pirates through 1913, he doesn't resemble the B18 image, which clearly shows the player wearing something other than a catcher's mitt.
However, the Baseball Reference image of Joseph H. Kelly (see below) looks very much like the B18 likeness and since he was the Pirates' regular center fielder in 1914, it seems more likely that is whom they intended to portray.
Unless we find a photograph of Hall of Famer Joseph J. Kelley that matches this image, it seems a bit of a reach to connect this blanket to the HOFer, especially since he last played in the majors in 1908, last played in the minors in 1910 and only appeared for Pittsburgh briefly in 1892.


https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...ellyjo03.shtml

It does look a LOT like Joseph H. Kelly. I think you nailed it.

[chlankf]

Patrick

From my understanding it is Joe.

I need the red one in your picture for my set.

Cheers

[z28jd]

The B18 is from this photo of Bill Kelly at the Polo Grounds in 1912