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John Edward Kennedy
Los Angeles Dodgers
Third Base-Shortstop
Born: May 29, 1941, Chicago, IL
Signed: Signed by the Washington Senators as an amateur free agent before 1961 season
Major League Teams: Washington Senators 1962-1964; Los Angeles Dodgers 1965-1966; New York Yankees 1967; Seattle Pilots 1969; Milwaukee Brewers 1970; Boston Red Sox 1970-1974
Died: August 9, 2018, Peabody, MA (age 77)
Sharing a name and a birthday (May 29th) with the 35th President of the United States, this John Kennedy was a middle infielder for 12 seasons in the big leagues. Kennedy's only season as an everyday player for a full season came in 1964 when he was the starting third baseman (81 games) or shortstop (43 games) for Gil Hodges' (#99) Senators. Kennedy was traded to the Dodgers with Claude Osteen (#570) in December 1964 in the trade that sent Frank Howard (#40) and four other players to the Senators. With the Dodgers, he appeared in 104 games in 1965 and won a World Series ring with the club. Kennedy would go on to serve as a back-up infielder for the Pilots during their only year of existence and finished his playing career with 4 1/2 seasons with the Red Sox. In 856 games, Kennedy was a .225 lifetime hitter with 32 home runs and 185 RBIs.
He served as a scout and minor league manager with the Boston, Oakland and New York Yankees' organizations between 1975 and 2001. Kennedy managed the North Shore Spirit in the independent Northern League between 2003 and 2006.
Building the Set
February 16, 2021 from Los Angeles, CA - Card #232
The Card / Dodgers Team Set
Kennedy is wearing a Senators uniform here, having been acquired by the Dodgers a few months before this card was issued. The back of the card references the big trade. In his big league debut on September 5, 1962, Kennedy pinch-hit for Senators' pitcher Ed Hobaugh and faced off against Indians' pitcher Dick Stigman (#548). He hit his first of 32 career home runs off Stigman to deep left field.
1965 Season
When he was originally acquired from the Senators, the Dodgers had planned to move Maury Wills from shortstop and give the position to Kennedy. However, Jim Gilliam announced his retirement after the trade, freeing up the third base position for Kennedy. He was the Dodgers' opening day third baseman, but missed a few weeks in late April/early May with a groin injury. Gilliam, who had been serving as a Dodgers coach, came out of retirement on May 28th, and Kennedy's job as the team's regular third baseman was gone. In 104 games, Kennedy batted .171 and spent the duration of the year as a back-up infielder and occasional pinch-hitter. In the 1965 World Series, he entered four games as a late inning defensive replacement for Gilliam and went 0 for 1 at the plate.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1964 Topps #203
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (9): 1964-1967, 1969-1973
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1973 Topps #437
44 - Kennedy non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 3/18/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
February 16, 2021 from Los Angeles, CA - Card #232
Busy with my chosen profession, rarely leaving the house and anxiously awaiting the return of live baseball, I turned to eBay in early February for some cardboard therapy. I spent at least a solid hour one dreary afternoon browsing the current auctions of Greg Morris Cards from Los Angeles, as that dealer had broken down yet another mint 1965 Topps set for auction. Of the 20-plus cards I bid on, I ended up winning only five auctions and I feel I overpaid for these cards - although the cards are pristine. As the auctions wound down, and as the outbid notifications started to pile up on my phone, I upped my existing bids on 10 or so remaining auctions in the hope of coming away with something. This Kennedy card was one of the five cards I won with a winning bid of $3.25.
The Card / Dodgers Team Set
Kennedy is wearing a Senators uniform here, having been acquired by the Dodgers a few months before this card was issued. The back of the card references the big trade. In his big league debut on September 5, 1962, Kennedy pinch-hit for Senators' pitcher Ed Hobaugh and faced off against Indians' pitcher Dick Stigman (#548). He hit his first of 32 career home runs off Stigman to deep left field.
1965 Season
When he was originally acquired from the Senators, the Dodgers had planned to move Maury Wills from shortstop and give the position to Kennedy. However, Jim Gilliam announced his retirement after the trade, freeing up the third base position for Kennedy. He was the Dodgers' opening day third baseman, but missed a few weeks in late April/early May with a groin injury. Gilliam, who had been serving as a Dodgers coach, came out of retirement on May 28th, and Kennedy's job as the team's regular third baseman was gone. In 104 games, Kennedy batted .171 and spent the duration of the year as a back-up infielder and occasional pinch-hitter. In the 1965 World Series, he entered four games as a late inning defensive replacement for Gilliam and went 0 for 1 at the plate.
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First Mainstream Card: 1964 Topps #203
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (9): 1964-1967, 1969-1973
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1973 Topps #437
44 - Kennedy non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 3/18/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Previous Card: #118 Hal Lanier - San Francisco Giants
Previous Card: #118 Hal Lanier - San Francisco Giants
Next Card: #120 Frank Robinson - Cincinnati Reds
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