Jim Kennedy (baseball manager)

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Jim Kennedy
Manager
Born: April 1862[a]
New York City, US
Died: April 20, 1904(1904-04-20) (aged 41–42)
Brooklyn, New York, US
MLB statistics
Games managed100[b]
Managerial record26–73
Winning percentage.263
Teams

James C. Kennedy (April 1862 – April 20, 1904) was a 19th-century manager in professional baseball. He managed the Brooklyn Gladiators of the American Association, considered a major league, during the 1890 season.

Biography[edit]

Kennedy was born in New York City in April 1862; as a young man he worked for The New York Times, becoming a baseball reporter; by 1884, he was also an official scorer.[2] He served as the secretary of the Central League, a minor league that only played one season, 1888.[2] Outside of baseball, Kennedy helped organize some racewalking events.[2]

One effect of the formation of the short-lived Players' League in 1890 was that the American Association needed an eighth team—Kennedy was able to secure a franchise, for which he served as the team's manager.[2] The Brooklyn Gladiators, despite the name, actually played home games at ballparks in Queens and northern Manhattan.[2] The team, using mainly older players or players released from other teams,[2] had a record of 26–73, a .263 winning percentage.[3] The Gladiators did not finish the season, as they disbanded in late August and were replaced by the Baltimore Orioles.[2]

After his brief time with the Gladiators, Kennedy became involved in staging bicycle races and boxing matches.[2] He died in April 1904 from a heart attack, likely related to his obesity, while en route from his home in Brooklyn to Manhattan via train.[2][4]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Kennedy's exact date of birth is unknown.
  2. ^ Kennedy managed the team in 100 games, as one game ended as a tie,[1] which is excluded from baseball win–loss statistics.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The 1890 Brooklyn Gladiators Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lamb, Bill. "Jim Kennedy". SABR. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. ^ "Jim Kennedy". Retrosheet. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "James C. Kennedy Dead". The New York Times. April 21, 1904. p. 3. Retrieved August 7, 2020 – via newspapers.com.

External links[edit]

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