Red Killefer

Red Killefer
Red Killefer
	Outfielder
	Born:April 13, 1885; Bloomingdale, Michigan,U.S.
	Died:September 4, 1958(aged 73); Los Angeles, California,U.S.
	Batted:Right Threw:Right
MLB debut
	September 16, 1907, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
	August 19, 1916, for the New York Giants
MLB statistics
Batting average	.248
Home runs	3
Runs batted in	116
Teams
	Detroit Tigers(1907–1909); Washington Senators(1909–1910); Cincinnati Reds(1914–1916); New York Giants(1916);

Wade Hampton "Red" Killefer(April 13, 1885 – September 4, 1958) was an Americanoutfielderandsecond basemaninMajor League Baseballwho played seven seasons with theDetroit Tigers(1907–1909),Washington Senators(1909–1910),Cincinnati Reds(1914–1916), andNew York Giants(1916).

Life and career

Born inBloomingdale, Michigan,Killefer attended theUniversity of Michiganfrom 1904 to 1907 before joining the Detroit Tigers in September 1907. Killefer led theAmerican Leagueand theNational Leaguein beinghit by pitchesin 1910 (16) and 1915 (19). Killeferbatted.248 with 3 home runs in 467 career games. Though he played on the Tigers' American League pennant winning teams in 1907 and 1908, Killefer did not play in eitherWorld Series.On August 13, 1909, the Tigers traded Killefer andGermany Schaeferto the Washington Senators forJim Delahanty.

On July 20, 1916, Killefer was traded by the Reds withBuck Herzogto the New York Giants for three future Hall of Famers:Christy Mathewson,Edd Roush,andBill McKechnie.After the trade, Killefer had only one at bat for the Giants before retiring.

In 467 major league games, Killefer was a versatile player who logged time at every position except pitcher: 135 games as a center fielder, 135 games as a left fielder, 129 games as a second baseman, 27 games as a right fielder, 11 games as a third baseman, 8 games as a shortstop, 3 games as a catcher, and 2 games as a first baseman.

Killefer is noted as being the first ever batter in a National League game atWrigley Field(Wrigley had been a Federal League park in its first two years), as a visiting team batter for the Cincinnati Reds. After his playing career ended, Killefer was a minor league manager for 25 years, (1917–1941). His managerial career included stints with the following teams:

Los Angeles Angelsin thePacific Coast League(1917–1922). He led the Angels to second-place finishes in his first three years with the team and finally to a PCL championship in 1921.
Seattle Indiansin thePacific Coast League(1923–1927). He won a PCL championship with them in 1924.
Mission Redsin the PCL (1928–1930).
Indianapolis Indiansin theAmerican Association(1933–1937, 1941).
Hollywood Starsof thePacific Coast League(1938–1939).

He was inducted in thePacific Coast League Hall of Fame.

Killefer's brother,Bill Killefer,was a major league catcher from 1909 to 1921 with theSt. Louis Browns,Philadelphia Phillies,andChicago Cubs.

Death

Killefer died in Los Angeles at age 73 in 1958.

External links

Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orBaseball Reference,orBaseball Reference (Minors)
Red Killeferat SABR (Baseball BioProject)
Photograph of Killefer in Seattle, circa 1925
Media related toRed Killeferat Wikimedia Commons