King Kelly medal

Date1887

DescriptionGold-colored medal comprised of a top ribbon with "Champion" in blue lettering with a placard hanging below with "Base Runner / Boston B.B. Club" inscribed. Hanging below this is a rectangular placard on top of a circular backing with two crossed baseball bats, two baseballs and a wire catcher's mask at the top center surrounded by a half laurel wreath. The lower rectangular placard depicts two raised figures, one sliding into a base and another stooped above with an arm outstretched. "National League / 1887" is inscribed around the circular backing behind this rectangular placard. "Presented by the Boston Globe to Michael J. Kelly" is inscribed on the reverse around the perimeter of the circular backing. There is a pin on the reverse at the top.

Bio/Historical NoteMedal awarded to Michael "King" Kelly in 1887 by the Boston Globe. At the beginning of the season, the Globe announced that they would give special awards to the champion batter and base runner on the Boston NL club. The Boston batter with the highest batting average would receive a solid silver regulation-sized baseball bat. In 1887, for the only season in big league history, walks were counted as hits and as a time at bat. However, the Boston Globe specifically stated that "the new-fangled base-on-balls base hit will play no part" in determining the winner of the silver bat. In other words, the newspaper chose to ignore the new ruling. Ultimately, Sam Wise, who batted .334, took home the silver bat. As for determining the champion base runner, the Globe created their own stolen base average, "by dividing the number of times a player reaches first base, in whatever way, by the number of stolen bases credited to him." At the end of the season, the Globe reported that Kelly stole 93 bases and reached first 218 times, for a club-high average of .426. Today, Kelly is credited with 84 stolen bases.

Object numberB-1956-0297

Subject Kelly, Michael J., 1857-1894

Subject Boston Braves (Baseball team)

Attributes

Classificationsawards

Dimensions2.75 x 4.75 x .5 in.

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