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Charlie Keller began his big league career in 1939, the same season Lou Gehrig bowed out. The two appeared in two games together, Keller’s April 22 debut as a pinch hitter and on the penultimate game of Gehrig’s career on April 29. Keller’s first start in the majors came on May 2, 1939, the day that Babe Dahlgren replaced Gehrig at first base to end his consecutive games played streak.

During Gehrig’s final years with the Yankees his roommate for Yankee road games was Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey. After Gehrig left the Yankees in May, the 32-year old Dickey roomed with Keller, a man ten years his junior. The two developed a strong friendship.

Shown here is a picture of Keller taken during his first major league campaign in 1939. The patch shown on his left shoulder confirms the year. Keller signed the photo to Dickey and mentions the catcher’s wife, the former Violet Arnold.

“To Bill, a good roomie and a real friend. Wishing you and Vi only the best. Sincerely, Charlie Keller.”

Though Keller’s signature is fairly common pieces from his playing career remain difficult to find, especially photos inscribed to Hall of Fame teammates.

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Charlie Keller’s teams appeared in six Fall Classics during his 13-year big league career. He came away with rings in 1939, ’41, ’43, ’47, and ’49. The first of those three came with teammate and road roommate Bill Dickey. After Dickey left, Keller’s Yankees won it all in both ’47 and ’49 though injury kept Keller from playing in those contests.

Keller performed well on the game’s biggest stage going 22-for-72 (.306) with three doubles, a pair of triples, and five home runs. He boasted 18 RBI in 19 games played to go along with a .611 slugging percentage and a .978 OPS.

Catcher Dickey earned five rings before teaming up with Keller. Those all came with Lou Gehrig as his road roommate in 1927, ’32, ’36, ’37, and ’38.

Shown here is a closeup of Keller’s signature on this photo once owned by Dickey.

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Charlie Keller played from 1939 to 1952, hitting .286 with 189 home runs, an OPS+ of 152 and a good BB/K ratio. An All-Star five times, he has the 34th best OBP all time, as well as the 65th best slugging percentage, 41st best OPS, 28th best OPS+ and 41st best OWP.

Keller’s 152 OPS+ ranks 28th all time. All but six of the men ahead of him on the all time list are in the Hall of Fame. The others are Mike Trout, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Dick Allen, Manny Ramirez, and 19th-century stars Pete Browning and Dave Orr.

In 1943, Keller led the league in OPS. He led the league in BB in 1940 and 1943. Similarly, he also led the league in OPS+ in 1943 (seeing a trend here?). Shock, awe – he led the league in batting wins, adjusted batting runs, OWP, power speed number and AB/HR in 1943. So I guess you could say that was his best year.

None of the players most similar to him statistically are in the Hall of Fame. The players he is similar to are JD Drew, Kevin Mitchell, Al Rosen, Tommy Henrich, Gavvy Cravath, Wally Post, Bob Horner, Aubrey Huff, Jeff Heath and Gus Zernial.

The Baseball Page ranks him as the 24th best left fielder of all time. He was considered in 10 different Hall of Fame elections, receiving as much as 6.1% of the vote.

Many believe Keller deserves greater consideration by the Veterans Committee.

In the collection is this 8×10 photo of Cardinals great Stan Musial and Keller taken at the 1943 World Series. Keller’s Yankees bested Musial’s Cardinals four games to one.

Both men have signed the photo.