Cincinnati Porkers

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The Cincinnati Porkers were a Major League team that played in 1891 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team played in the American Association. They were also known as the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers or simply the Cincinnati Kellys.

The Porkers played at Pendleton Park (just east of Cincinnati where Paul Kramer Field in the Schmidt Recreation Complex is located now) and the ballpark at the time was only accessible to players and fans by a one hour steamboat ride. The ballpark at the time was actually referred to as East End Park and later took the name Pendleton Park years after the Kellys vacated the grounds.

The majority owner of the team was Chris von der Ahe and they were managed by King Kelly. Under Kelly's direction the team was well known for it rambunctious play and for its consumption of alcohol during post game celebrations; in fact, when they played on Sunday, all the players had to go to the police station to pay two dollar fines due to city rules prohibiting baseball on Sundays. Kelly also allowed the players to choose which position they wanted to play on a daily basis.

In their only year in existence the Porkers won 43 games and lost 57. In mid-August with the season incomplete, von der Ahe was paid $12,000 by the National League's Cincinnati Reds to take the Porkers out of the area. The team finished the rest of the season in Milwaukee.