Red Killefer

Wade Hampton "Red" Killefer (April 13, 1885 – September 4, 1958) was an outfielder and second baseman in Major League Baseball who played seven seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1907–1909), Washington Senators (1909–1910), Cincinnati Reds (1914–1916), and New York Giants (1916).

Born in Bloomingdale, Michigan, Killefer attended the University of Michigan from 1904 to 1907 before joining the Detroit Tigers in September 1907. Killefer led the American League and the National League in being hit by pitches in 1910 (16) and 1915 (19). Killefer batted .248 with 3 home runs in 467 career games. Though he played on the Tigers' American League pennant winning teams in 1907 and 1908, Killefer did not play in either World Series. On August 13, 1909, the Tigers traded Killefer and Germany Schaefer to the Washington Senators for Jim Delahanty.

On July 20, 1916, Killefer was traded by the Reds with Buck Herzog to the New York Giants for three future Hall of Famers: Christy Mathewson, Edd Roush, and Bill McKechnie. After the trade, Killefer had only one at bat for the Giants before retiring.

In 467 major league games, Killefer was a versatile player who logged time at every position except pitcher: 135 games as a center fielder, 135 games as a left fielder, 129 games as a second baseman, 27 games as a right fielder, 11 games as a third baseman, 8 games as a shortstop, 3 games as a catcher, and 2 games as a first baseman.

Killefer is noted as being the first ever batter at Wrigley Field, as a visiting team batter for the Cincinnati Reds.
After his playing career ended, Killefer was  a minor league manager for 25 years, from 1917 to 1941. His managerial career included stints with the following teams:
 Los Angeles Angels in the Pacific Coast League from 1917 to 1922. He led the Angels to second-place finishes in his first three years with the team and finally to a PCL championship in 1921.
 Seattle Indians in the Pacific Coast League from 1923 to 1927. He won a PCL championship with them in 1924.
 Mission Reds in the PCL from 1928 to 1930.
 Indianapolis Indians in the American Association from 1933 to 1937 and 1941.
 Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League in 1938 and 1939.

He was inducted in the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame.

Killefer's brother, Bill Killefer, was a major league catcher from 1909 to 1921 with the St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs.

Killefer died in Los Angeles at age 73 in 1958.

External links

Red Killefer at B-R Bullpen
Red Killefer at SABR (Baseball BioProject)

Photograph of Killefer in Seattle, circa 1925

Category:1885 births
Category:1958 deaths
Category:Baseball players from Michigan
Category:Cincinnati Reds players
Category:Detroit Tigers players
Category:Hollywood Stars managers
Category:Indianapolis Indians managers
Category:Johnstown Johnnies players
Category:Kalamazoo White Sox players
Category:Los Angeles Angels (minor league) managers
Category:Los Angeles Angels (minor league) players
Category:Louisville Colonels (minor league) players
Category:Major League Baseball center fielders
Category:Major League Baseball left fielders
Category:Major League Baseball outfielders
Category:Major League Baseball second basemen
Category:Michigan Wolverines baseball players
Category:Minneapolis Millers (baseball) players
Category:Minor league baseball managers
Category:New York Giants (NL) players
Category:People from Van Buren County, Michigan
Category:Purdue Boilermakers baseball players
Category:Seattle Indians players
Category:Washington Senators (1901–60) players