#11 - Roberto Kelly

Largely remembered as a journeyman outfielder in the 1990s, Roberto was part of the bad Yankees teams at the turn of the decade.  Their outfield really wasn't the problem, though; once he was given the starting job in 1989, he did well.  I would guess that the Yankees wanted him to replace some of Rickey Henderson's speed when they gave him the starting job that year.

Career Stats

The back of the card notes some firsts for Kelly.  More specifics:

First hit: A double off of Bud Black of the Royals.
First homer: A three-run shot off the Tigers' Willie Hernandez
First 4-hit game: Two singles, a double and homer on Opening Day 1989 against the Twins.  The card's fact is wrong; it mentions his second 4-hit game.  That one was also against Minnesota.

'91: 126 G,  543 PA (486 AB), .267/.333/.444, 130 H, 68 R, 22 2B, 2 3B, 20 HR, 45 BB, 77 K, 42 SB (17 CS), 114 OPS+

Best '91 Game: September 18 vs. Brewers: 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI

 Kelly hit two solo shots including a walk-off homer against starter Julio Navarro in the ninth to lead the Yankees to a 2-1 win.  Navarro and Yankees starter Jeff Johnson allowed one run through eight innings and reliever Steve Farr picked up the victory for the home team.

After '91: Kelly spent another year with the Yankees, and then was trade bait to acquire Paul O'Neill, whom was a cornerstone veteran outfielder of the great Yankee teams of the 1990s.  Roberto spent his career with seven other teams, coming full circle when he returned to the Yankees in 2000.  He signed as a free agent with the Rockies in 2001, but he didn't make the team and retired.

I remember Kelly when he was traded to the Braves in 1994 for Deion Sanders.  There wasn't long to appreciate him because the strike happened and then he was flipped to the Expos in the package for Marquis Grissom in 1995. 

However, on June 6, I was at a game at Fulton County Stadium where Kelly broke up a no-hit bid by Padres starter Andy Benes.  Benes was shockingly outdueling Greg Maddux that day, ahead 2-0, when Kelly got a two-out single.  I had never cheered so loud for a single in my life.

The Braves went ahead 3-2 in the eighth, but a Greg McMichael meltdown led to a 4-3 loss with the tying run on second with two out when the game ended.  Kelly went 2-4 with a walk that day.