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Frank William Kellert
Chicago Cubs
First Base
Born: July 6, 1924, Oklahoma City, OK
Signed: Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent before 1949 season
Major League Teams: St. Louis Browns 1953; Baltimore Orioles 1954; Brooklyn Dodgers 1955; Chicago Cubs 1956
Died: November 19, 1976, Oklahoma City, OK (age 52)
Frank Kellert had a front row seat with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955 as the team won its only World Championship before relocating to Los Angeles two years later. Kellert had his best professional season in 1954 with the San Antonio Missions, the Orioles' top farm team. He won Texas League MVP honors, hitting .316 with 41 home runs and 146 RBIs. On the strength of his 1954 season, the Dodgers acquired him from the Orioles on March 17, 1955 for Erv Palica (#206). Kellert spent the entire 1955 season with Brooklyn, appearing in 39 games and making 17 starts at first base to occasionally give Gil Hodges (#145) some days off. He batted .325 (26 for 80) for the Dodgers during the regular season and made three pinch-hitting appearances in the World Series, going 1 for 3. Kellert was at-bat in the eighth inning of Game 1 when Jackie Robinson (#30) stole home, evading Yogi Berra's (#110) tag.
Kellert moved to Chicago for the 1956 season, his last in the majors. He played for three more years in the minors before retiring in 1959. In 122 big league games, Kellert batted .231 with 57 hits, eight home runs and 37 RBIs.
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| July 12, 2007 |
July 12, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchases - Card #299
Our first son Doug was born in December 2006, and this happy event led directly to my Dad visiting us on a more regular basis. Dad was living by himself at this point in Mays Landing, New Jersey and he didn't enjoy the 40 minute drive north to our house. Among all the very positive memories I have of my Dad, one of my few negative memories is the fact he absolutely seemed to loathe driving and that loathing increased exponentially if there was traffic or if it were dark. But he made the trips anyway, sometimes staying no more than an hour, because he was so incredibly anxious and excited to spend time with his grandson.
By the time his second grandson (Ben) was born in April 2010, my Dad's health had started to fail and whatever visits we had were pre-arranged or consisted of us visiting him. Which is why these visits during Doug's infancy and first few years are so special to me. My Dad would show up usually unannounced, ecstatic to see Doug, there would be some small talk and we'd complain about the Phillies, and then he'd leave. But on his way out, he'd always say he'd see us again in a few days and I'd look forward to these visits.
This background is needed to better explain how this Kellert card came into our set. In 2007, My Dad's days mostly consisted of an occasional round of golf, calls and visits to his kids - my sister and me, watching cable news, an afternoon nap and scouring eBay. Most (but not all) of his eBay purchases benefitted me in the form of 1956 Topps cards we needed for our set. He'd show up at our house for a visit with Doug and nonchalantly hand me one of his recent purchases. He brought this Kellert card, by itself, on July 12, 2007. This would have a Thursday, and I may not have even been home at the the time of his visit. Pictures from the time show Doug going through a major drooling phase.
Throughout 2007, I suspect my Dad had a backlog of purchased 1956 Topps cards piled up on his desk at his house, and he'd grab one or two to deliver to me as he was heading out the door to make the 40 minute drive to visit Doug.
Throughout 2007, I suspect my Dad had a backlog of purchased 1956 Topps cards piled up on his desk at his house, and he'd grab one or two to deliver to me as he was heading out the door to make the 40 minute drive to visit Doug.
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| 1995 Topps Archives Brooklyn Dodgers #114 |
My goodness, Mr. Kellert had a long neck. I think it's more likely Kellert is the runner in the action photo, but he could also be the first baseman. This is his first and last appearance in a Topps flagship set, although Topps did create a 1955 inspired card for him in their 1995 Topps Archives Brooklyn Dodgers set.
The first cartoon panel on the back is perhaps the most depressing cartoon panel in the entire set. While serving in the Army during World War II, Kellert was on a transport ship torpedoed by German submarines in the Mediterranean. Kellert himself survived by floating on debris for over 24 hours, but over 2,100 soldiers were lost in the attack.
1956 Season
A week after the Dodgers won the Championship, Kellert was placed on waivers and selected by the Cubs. He assumed much of the same role he had with the Dodgers, but he did receive quite a few pinch-hitting opportunities. Kellert started 25 games at first base, with regular Dee Fondy (#112) getting the other 132 starts. As a pinch-hitter, Kellert batted .263 with 10 hits and five RBIs. He batted .186 overall, with four home runs and 17 RBIs. In January 1957, Kellert was dealt to the Red Sox.
1956 Season
First Mainstream Card: 1956 Topps #291
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (1): 1956
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1995 Topps Archives Brooklyn Dodgers #114
11 - Kellert non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 5/19/24.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
The Trading Card Database
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Order Collected: #121 Pittsburgh Pirates Team Card / #259 Sam Jones - Chicago Cubs
You're not kidding about his neck. I'd like to see a neck off between Kellert and Ed Brinkman, who had quite a long neck himself.
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