Charlie Keller
| Birthdate | 9/12/1916 |
| Death Date | 5/23/1990 |
| Debut Year | 1939 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Tigers, Yankees |
| Position | Left Field |
Charlie Keller has a career 152 OPS+ that ranks 28th all time, ahead of Honus Wagner, Nap Lajoie, Eddie Collins, Mike Schmidt & Albert Pujols.
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Keller's first MLB start came on 5/2/1939, the day Gehrig's streak ended at 2,130 consecutive games
Keller's first MLB start came on 5/2/1939, the day Gehrig's streak ended at 2,130 consecutive games
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.
The first three of Keller's five World Series rings were earned with Dickey as his teammate
The first three of Keller's five World Series rings were earned with Dickey as his teammate
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.
Charlie Keller had a fine career 13-year career that puts him in the Cooperstown conversation
Charlie Keller had a fine career 13-year career that puts him in the Cooperstown conversation
Charlie Keller played from 1939 to 1952, hitting .286 with 189 home runs, an OPS+ of 152 and an outstanding BB/K ratio. A five-time All-Star, he owns the 34th-best OBP all time, as well as the 65th-hightest slugging percentage, 41st best OPS, 28th best OPS+.
Keller’s 152 OPS+ ranks 28th all time. Twenty-one of the 27 men ahead of him 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.
Keller’s finest year came in 1943. That year he led the league in walks, OPS, and OPS+. By season’s end, Keller had the third of his four 6.0+ WAR campaign.
According to Bill James’ similarity scores, none of the players most similar to Keller are in the Hall of Fame. The list includes 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.
A lifelong Maryland resident, Charlie Keller was inducted into the state's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1958
A lifelong Maryland resident, Charlie Keller was inducted into the state's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1958
Charlie Keller was a Marylander through-and-through. Born and raised in the state, he is buried within 15 miles of his Middletown, Maryland birthplace.
The five-time All Star played in four World Series between 1939 and 1943, earning two rings. A highly-productive player, the 13-year veteran’s 6.0 WAR/162 far exceeds the 4.8 WAR/162 of the average Hall of Famer at his position.
If not for injuries that cut his Keller’s career short, he just may have hit his way into Cooperstown.
Middletown’s Memorial Park has a registered historical marker honoring Keller. The state was so proud of its native son that the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame inducted Keller in 1958.
Shown here is a letter from Sam Sibler, the chairman of the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame. In the October 26, 1962 correspondence Sibler informs 16-year MLB vet Bill Nicholson of his election.
Nicholson was a four-time National League All Star. Twice he led the Senior Circuit in home runs and RBI. With three 6.0 WAR campaigns, Nicholson’s career WAR stands at 41.9. He earned votes in MVP balloting five seasons, and finished in the top three for the award in 1943 and 1944.
Nicholson’s career 132 OPS+ is equal to Cooperstown’s Tony Gwynn, Rafael Palmeiro, and one point higher than Rod Carew, and Wade Boggs. He left the game with 1,484 career hits, 235 dingers, and 948 RBI.
