Evening star., 1955-06-09
WIN, LOSE OR
DkAW By FRANCIS srANN
Grin Who Remembers When

MAYBE YOU NEVER HEARD of Michael Joseph (Ndike)
Kelley especially you born in big league baseball
town Mike died the other day at 70 years and with his
passing baseball lost one of its pillars.
Clark Griffith, who has mourned many an old pal in
recent years. saying this about his friend
mike the only fellow in baseball whose word you
could take all the years I've had dealings with Mike
there scratch of pen piece of paper A
handshake a word the telephone binding
than all the legal stuff prepared by team of lawyers
Mike Kelley was, perhaps Mr.. Minor League. Once
back in 1899 he played part of first baseman
for louisville when it National League club with
such Hall OF Fame greats Honus Wagner and Fred
the playing Otherwise Kelley spent the rest Of
his life in the bushes and finally got to be manager and
later of Minneapolis.
"There are only three of us Left he used to tell Gri
and Connie Mack and those two odsters would nod in
complete agreement. ~@,aa.as-4
THE FACT THAT KELLEY was minor league, while
Griffith and Mack big league made difference. They
of the breed old ball players who acquired
clubs of their and who ate well only when they
doing we'll at the gate Baseball hobby sdeline
to this threesome. None rich umberman brewer,
contractor or auto tycoon. .
Mike Kelley big guy with Irish puss who used
to frequent Orlando Fa while he owned the Minneapolis
(which he sold to the Giants 4e and afterward He
visited ri and they cut touches and and then
tip from Kelley put the Old Fox the trail of ball player
his way up. He had those tiny red veins in his jow
giveaway sign of who has visited many BAR but on
Mike showed otherwise and he knew his baseball
Mike right when he said only three of were left
Mike is gone. That leaves
1--WE were well, I guess you'd have to say
sort of the backbone of the game for long time"
-
TO THE LAYMAN perhaps, there was nothing special
about Mike Kelley. He was described, thirsty man and
by Grhths admission, a "crusty sort of codger.
II don't know exactly how we got to be such good
friends Gr says but awfuly close to each other
from years used to caution him about whisky and
Mike WE'LL he'd just laugh and talk baseball and, don't
you know knew about it than just about anybody
mike the most honest guy ever knew You news
paper fellows writing for years about Washington
not having Triple-A farm club. Shucks had Trple-A
connection whatever they call it, for Nothing ever
was in writing but when Mike Kelley owned Minneapolis
he operated closely that might as well have been
in control of that kind of farm"
do YOU REMEMBER catcher used to have-Pat
Charity? Mike Kelley sent him to me-in exchange for
couple players and maybe cash. Charity gave
about years. and when he wasn't catching he playing
first base or in the outied.
Kelley didn't have to do that for but he did," Gr
musng "Shucks he could have got better deal for
Charity Today fellow like Pat would be worth fortune
did Kelley, Independent owner of an important
franchise like Minneapolis, try to hold you up
transaction?" Gr asked Tha s did he bargain with
one club and play one bid against another?"
"Not with me-" quick reply, "and not with any
body else that know Of couldn't outbid lot of these
new fellows with lot of money and Mike asked
to do it. He my friend"