Bill Kennedy (1948–57 pitcher)


William Aulton Kennedy, nicknamed "Lefty", was a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Redlegs of Major League Baseball between 1948 and 1957.

Biography

Kennedy was born in Carnesville, Georgia. Signed before the 1939 season as an amateur free agent by the New York Yankees, Kennedy made his MLB debut with the Indians only in 1948, as he served in the U.S. Army during World War II.) They traded him to the Browns for pitcher Sam Zoldak that season and went on to win the World Series.
He led the American League in games pitched in 1952. In eight seasons, he had a 15-28 win-loss record, 172 games pitched, 11 saves, 256 strikeouts and a 4.73 earned run average.
Kennedy died in Seattle of lung cancer at the age of 62.