Edward Kelley

Note: This page is for 1880s and 1890s minor league pitcher Edward Kelley; for others with the same name, click here.

Edward J. Kelley

• Bats Unknown, Throws Right

• Born c. 1867 in Maine USA
• Died February 23, 1898 in Portland, ME USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Edward Kelley was a pitcher from Portland, ME who played in the minor leagues from 1888 to at least 1893. After making his name as a local amateur, he joined Portland's team in the New England League in June 1888, playing the team's final three games before they disbanded. In 1889 he pitched locally and in St. John, NB. In 1890 he spent most of the year with a semipro team in Lewiston, ME, before finishing the year with their in-state rivals from Bangor.

In the spring of 1891 Kelley was fined and sentenced to jail as a drunk, but still got a trial game back in the New England League with Portland. A few weeks later the team signed the similarly named Ed Kelly, a left-handed pitcher from Dedham, MA, who finished the season with the team. Both players were listed by various sources as either Kelly or Kelley.

After pitching with other area teams in the meantime, Kelley got another shot with Portland's league team in 1892, though his drinking likely led to his release after a few weeks. He began 1893 ill at home, but still made league appearances with Lowell, Brockton, and Manchester.

In 1894 Portland gave trials to Ed Kelly, their left-hander from 1891, and W. E. Kelley, who had previously been with Haverhill, but it is unverified if Edward Kelley played in 1894 or beyond. He was charged on numerous more occasions for public drunkenness, fighting, and for deserting his wife in 1897. Having worked as a longshoreman after his playing days, his death in 1898 was little-remarked upon, except that the Portland Longshoreman's Benevolent Society was meeting in the wake of his passing. His infant son died the following year.