Hal Keller Explained

Hal Keller
Position:Catcher
Birth Date:7 July 1927
Birth Place:Middletown, Maryland
Death Place:Sequim, Washington
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 13
Debutyear:1949
Debutteam:Washington Senators
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:July 28
Finalyear:1952
Finalteam:Washington Senators
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.204
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:1
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:5
Teams:

Harold Kefauver Keller (July 7, 1927 – June 5, 2012) was an American professional baseball player and executive who served as the fourth general manager in the history of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (198485). Born on a farm in Middletown, Maryland,[1] he graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in economics and served in the United States Army during World War II. Keller's older brother, Charlie, was an All-Star left fielder with the New York Yankees.

Baseball career

During an eight-season pro playing career, which began in 1948, Keller appeared as a catcher in 25 MLB games for the Washington Senators between 1949 and 1952. A left-handed batter, he stood 6feet tall and weighed . His 11 big-league hits included five doubles and one home run, a two-run shot hit at Fenway Park off James Atkins of the Boston Red Sox on September 29, 1950.[2]

After managing in the Senators' farm system during the late 1950s, he scouted for them until the franchise moved to Minneapolis–Saint Paul as the Minnesota Twins after the 1960 season. Keller, however, remained in Washington as farm system director of the expansion Senators in 1961 and . After spending with his old organization, the Twins, as a scout, Keller rejoined the expansion Senators as their director of player development and scouting in, a post he held for 15 years, through the team's 1972 transfer to Dallas–Fort Worth as the Texas Rangers.

After 1978, Keller left the Rangers to become farm system and scouting director of the Seattle Mariners (197983). During his two decades as farm and scouting director with the Senators/Rangers and the Mariners, he signed and developed players such as Phil Bradley, Jeff Burroughs, Joe Coleman, Mike Hargrove, Mark Langston, Bill Madlock, Jim Sundberg and Bill Swift.[1]

Keller then served as the Mariners' vice president, baseball operations, and general manager from October 1983 to July 12, 1985, when he resigned. The Mariners went 115–132 (.466) during his 1-year term as general manager, while incorporating Langston, Swift, Alvin Davis and Jim Presley into their lineup. He later scouted for the Detroit Tigers and Anaheim Angels.

Hal Keller died in his sleep at home in Sequim, Washington, aged 84. He had been battling diabetes and esophageal cancer.[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Keller remembered as top-notch scout. June 5, 2012. Fox Sports.com. 2017-05-06.
  2. http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1950/B09290BOS1950.htm Information