John Kennedy (baseball, born 1941)

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This article is about the Major League Baseball infielder who played from 1962 to 1974. For other people named John Kennedy, see John Kennedy (disambiguation).

John Edward Kennedy (born May 29, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois) is a former infielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers, and Boston Red Sox.

[edit] Major League career

Kennedy spent twelve seasons in the major leagues. He hit a home run in his first major league at bat (on September 5, 1962, against Dick Stigman of the Minnesota Twins), and he also garnered headlines because his birthdate, May 29, was shared with the President of the United States at the time, John Fitzergald Kennedy, who was born 24 years earlier, in 1917.

His only season as a full-time regular was with the 1964 Washington Senators under manager Gil Hodges, primarily as a third baseman, but also playing at shortstop and second base. Kennedy hit .230 with seven home runs and 35 runs batted in. After the 1964 season, he was traded with pitcher Claude Osteen and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for five players, including outfielder Frank Howard. With the Dodgers, Kennedy would be part of history when he replaced Jim Gilliam at third base in the eighth inning of Sandy Koufax's perfect game on September 9, 1965^[1]. The New York Yankees acquired Kennedy in a trade after the 1966 season, then sold him to the expansion Seattle Pilots after the 1968 season. Kennedy retired in 1974 after four and a half seasons with the Boston Red Sox.

[edit] Activity since retiring

Kennedy has scouted, managed, and coached in the minor leagues since leaving Major League Baseball. He managed the North Shore Spirit throughout most of their five years as an independent team.^[2]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• John Kennedy - Baseball-Reference.com

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