George Keefe

Who was George Keefe?

George Washington Keefe was a left-handed professional baseball starting pitcher who played for the Washington Nationals, Buffalo Bisons and Washington Statesmen from 1886 to 1891.

Keefe made his major league debut on July 30, 1886 at the age of 19. The sixth youngest player in the league, he went 0-3 with a 5.17 ERA in four games in his first big league season.

In 1887, Keefe appeared in only one game. Despite allowing 16 hits, four walks and 20 runs, Keefe managed to complete his only game of the season. He was also the sixth youngest player in 1887.

Keefe went 6-7 with a 2.84 ERA in 13 starts in 1888. In 1889, he went 8-18 with a 5.13 ERA, finishing fifth in the league in walks allowed and seventh in losses. On May 1, 1889, Keefe set the National League record for most walks in an inning, when he walked seven batters in the fifth inning. The record was subsequently tied by Bob Ewing and Tony Mullane, and Dolly Gray walked eight batters in an inning in 1909. Gray was an American League pitcher, however.

Following the 1889 season, Keefe went to play for the Buffalo Bisons of the Players' League. He went 6-16 that year, posting a 6.52 ERA.