Joseph James Kelley (December 9, 1871–August 14, 1943) was a Major League Baseball player who starred in the outfield of the powerful Baltimore Oriole teams of the 1890s.

Kelley broke into the National League in 1891 with the Boston Beaneaters, and after a brief stint in Pittsburgh the following year, came into his own as a member of the Baltimore Orioles in 1893. In 1894 he had arguably his finest offensive season, batting .393 with 111 RBI and 165 runs. Combined with 107 walks, Kelley posted a spectacular .502 on base percentage.

Kelley continued his fine hitting throughout his career, which included stops in Brooklyn (1899–1901), Baltimore again (1902, Cincinnati (1902 - 1906), and Boston again (1908). Aside from consistent run production and hitting (which included 11 consecutive .300-plus seasons), Kelley was also know as a good base runner and stole a career-high 87 bases in 1896. He retired with a career .317 batting, .402 on base percentage, 65 home runs (including a career high 10 in 1895), 1421 runs, 1194 RBI and 443 stolen bases in 1853 career games.

Kelley also managed from 1902 until 1905 with the Cincinnati Reds, and in 1908 with the Boston Red Sox. He compiled a solid, but unspectacular, 338-321 record as a manager.

Kelley was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.

External links

• Joe Kelley's career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kellejo01.shtml
• Baseball Hall of Fame Biography http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/kelley_joe.htm