Infield: First baseman Ryan Klesko (1992-2007) hit 278 home runs. A good total, but hardly eye-popping in the 1990s. But the home runs themselves? Now, they were often eye-popping. In one Double-A game, he hit a ball into the second deck of the Florida Citrus Bowl football stadium. This is even more impressive when you realize that he wasn’t playing in the Citrus Bowl. He was playing in the adjacent baseball stadium, and his home run flew out of the park and into the football stadium. Not makin' that up. Third baseman Ray Knight (1974-88) had the unenviable task of replacing Pete Rose in Cincinnati. He took over at third base when Rose left the team in 1979, and Knight won over the fans by hitting .318 with 37 doubles. He wasn’t really that good, but he wasn’t bad either. And he married pro golfer Nancy Lopez. Shortstop Red Kress (1927-46) hit a bunch of doubles and averaged 111 RBI between 1929-31. He was a pretty fair player, but he spent most of his career with the Browns and the Senators, which was a good way to remain anonymous. Rod Kanehl (1962-64) was the light-hitting (but always hustling) second baseman for the expansion Mets. He hit the first grand slam in Mets history, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he had any kind of power.
Outfield: Left fielder Ralph Kiner (1946-55) was one of the great sluggers of all time, leading the National League in home runs in each of his first seven seasons. He drew 100-120 walks per year and hit 40-50 home runs per year, so folks were willing to overlook his iron glove, but even so there were (and probably still are) a lot of people who underestimate how good Kiner was. Went on to a career in the broadcast booth noteworthy for his many malaprops. Center fielder Roberto Kelly (1987-2000) was a .290 hitter with a little bit of power (124 home runs), a little bit more speed (235 stolen bases), with a decent batting eye and a good glove. Never a superstar, but always a useful player. Right fielder Red Killefer (1907-16) was a decent enough outfielder who got hit by a lot of pitches. He was on two Detroit Tigers championship teams, but didn’t play in either World Series. He was out of the majors at age 31 but who was a .300 hitter in the Pacific Coast League for several years thereafter, and a PCL manager for 25 years.
Catcher: Ron Karkovice (1986-97) was a big fellow who hit 96 home runs, was a solid catcher, and ran well enough to steal 10 bases one year.
Rotation: Remy “Ray” Kremer (1924-33) won 100 games in the minors before he arrived in Pittsburgh, and then he won 143 with the Pirates, starting at age 31. In the 1925 World Series, he pitched a complete game to win Game 6, then came back on one day rest to pitch four innings of relief and pick up the victory in Game 7. Ray Keating (1912-19) was a forgettable pitcher for the Yankees in the years before Ruth. Russ Kemmerer (1954-63), at his peak, was a workhorse on a bad Washington Senators team. Ray Kolp (1921-34) is not the same person as Ray Culp. Kolp was a decent enough pitcher who had some good years for the Browns and the Reds in the 1920s. Rube Kisinger (1902-03) started a few games for the Tigers but won 205 games in the minors.
Bullpen: Closer Ron Kline (1952-70) began as a starter and won as many as 14 games. He finished as a closer and led the AL in saves in 1965. He finished with 114 wins and 108 saves, one of the few pitchers to hit triple-digits in both categories. Ray King (1999-2008) was a heavyset lefty one-out specialist. Ron Klimkowski (1969-72) had a few good years before a knee injury derailed his career. Rube Kroh (1906-12) was a fairly effective lefty. Randy Keisler (2000-07) was a lefty with a gopher problem. Randy Kramer (1988-92) was a tall, skinny righty who bounced around for a few years. Ricky Keeton (1980-81) looked promising but never panned out.
Bench: Ron Kittle (1982-91) was a hulking, bespectacled slugger who won the Rookie of the Year award and hit 176 home runs. He was a good hitter who could press Red Killefer for playing time, but if you start Kiner in left and Kittle in right, you could give Roberto Kelly a nervous breakdown in center. Outfielder Rusty Kuntz (1979-85) was a graduate of Cal State Stanislaus (really) who played on the 1984 Detroit Tigers championship team. Red Kellett (1934) is a utility infielder, sort of. His 10 career plate appearances included one walk, five strikeouts and no hits. Backup catcher Red Kleinow (1904-11) played fairly regularly for the Yankees but batted just .213 for his career. Ryan Kalish (2010- ) is a young outfielder in the Red Sox organization who got his first taste of the majors at age 22 and showed a little bit of pop and some speed. It's not much to go on, but it's enough to claim the last spot on this roster.
Outfield: Left fielder Ralph Kiner (1946-55) was one of the great sluggers of all time, leading the National League in home runs in each of his first seven seasons. He drew 100-120 walks per year and hit 40-50 home runs per year, so folks were willing to overlook his iron glove, but even so there were (and probably still are) a lot of people who underestimate how good Kiner was. Went on to a career in the broadcast booth noteworthy for his many malaprops. Center fielder Roberto Kelly (1987-2000) was a .290 hitter with a little bit of power (124 home runs), a little bit more speed (235 stolen bases), with a decent batting eye and a good glove. Never a superstar, but always a useful player. Right fielder Red Killefer (1907-16) was a decent enough outfielder who got hit by a lot of pitches. He was on two Detroit Tigers championship teams, but didn’t play in either World Series. He was out of the majors at age 31 but who was a .300 hitter in the Pacific Coast League for several years thereafter, and a PCL manager for 25 years.
Catcher: Ron Karkovice (1986-97) was a big fellow who hit 96 home runs, was a solid catcher, and ran well enough to steal 10 bases one year.
Rotation: Remy “Ray” Kremer (1924-33) won 100 games in the minors before he arrived in Pittsburgh, and then he won 143 with the Pirates, starting at age 31. In the 1925 World Series, he pitched a complete game to win Game 6, then came back on one day rest to pitch four innings of relief and pick up the victory in Game 7. Ray Keating (1912-19) was a forgettable pitcher for the Yankees in the years before Ruth. Russ Kemmerer (1954-63), at his peak, was a workhorse on a bad Washington Senators team. Ray Kolp (1921-34) is not the same person as Ray Culp. Kolp was a decent enough pitcher who had some good years for the Browns and the Reds in the 1920s. Rube Kisinger (1902-03) started a few games for the Tigers but won 205 games in the minors.
Bullpen: Closer Ron Kline (1952-70) began as a starter and won as many as 14 games. He finished as a closer and led the AL in saves in 1965. He finished with 114 wins and 108 saves, one of the few pitchers to hit triple-digits in both categories. Ray King (1999-2008) was a heavyset lefty one-out specialist. Ron Klimkowski (1969-72) had a few good years before a knee injury derailed his career. Rube Kroh (1906-12) was a fairly effective lefty. Randy Keisler (2000-07) was a lefty with a gopher problem. Randy Kramer (1988-92) was a tall, skinny righty who bounced around for a few years. Ricky Keeton (1980-81) looked promising but never panned out.
Bench: Ron Kittle (1982-91) was a hulking, bespectacled slugger who won the Rookie of the Year award and hit 176 home runs. He was a good hitter who could press Red Killefer for playing time, but if you start Kiner in left and Kittle in right, you could give Roberto Kelly a nervous breakdown in center. Outfielder Rusty Kuntz (1979-85) was a graduate of Cal State Stanislaus (really) who played on the 1984 Detroit Tigers championship team. Red Kellett (1934) is a utility infielder, sort of. His 10 career plate appearances included one walk, five strikeouts and no hits. Backup catcher Red Kleinow (1904-11) played fairly regularly for the Yankees but batted just .213 for his career. Ryan Kalish (2010- ) is a young outfielder in the Red Sox organization who got his first taste of the majors at age 22 and showed a little bit of pop and some speed. It's not much to go on, but it's enough to claim the last spot on this roster.
Manager: Ray Knight will be player manager, with considerable input from Killefer.
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