| Jim Kennedy | |
| Position: | Manager |
| Birth Date: | April 1862 |
| Birth Place: | New York City, US |
| Death Place: | Brooklyn, New York, US |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Games managed |
| Stat1value: | 100 |
| Stat2label: | Managerial record |
| Stat2value: | 26–73 |
| Stat3label: | Winning percentage |
| 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 season.
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. He served as the secretary of the Central League, a minor league that only played one season, . Outside of baseball, Kennedy helped organize some racewalking events.[1]
One effect of the formation of the short-lived Players' League in 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.[1] The Brooklyn Gladiators, despite the name, actually played home games at ballparks in Queens and northern Manhattan.[1] The team, using mainly older players or players released from other teams,[1] had a record of 26–73, a .263 winning percentage.[2] The Gladiators did not finish the season, as they disbanded in late August and were replaced by the Baltimore Orioles.[1]
After his brief time with the Gladiators, Kennedy became involved in staging bicycle races and boxing matches.[1] 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.[1] [3]