1961 Topps #27, Jerry Kindall

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Jerry Kindall's 1961 Topps #27 baseball card is shown
here, both front and back:

http://home.triad.rr.com/ovis/images/027_Kindall-a.jpg

http://home.triad.rr.com/ovis/images/027_Kindall-b.jpg

Jerry Kindall fit the role of utility infielder. He could play
a number of infield positions, but never hit over .250 in
his nine years in the majors.

Jerry was signed, as a "bonus baby" by the Cubs in '56.
The 21 year old would hit .164 in 62 plate appearances
that year.

In 1957, he would hit for a scorching .160 in 72 games
in which he played.

Before he got started good in '58, he was sent down to
the minors. He couldn't hit minor league pitching much
better than the major leaguers, but in spite of that, the
cubs brought him back up during the 1960 season, and
in 89 games, he hit for a .240 average.

In 1961, the year of this card, Jerry would play in 96
games, with an average of .242, and would split his
fielding time about evenly between shortstop and
second base. In spite of only playing in 96 games
this year, Jerry would be 8th in the league in strikeouts.

At the end of the season in '61, Jerry was traded away
to the Indians for the pitcher, Bobby Locke, who was
in turn traded to the Cardinals for a minor leaguer by
the name of Al Herring.

With the Indians, Jerry was given the starting duties at
second base, but his bat remained marginal. He only
hit for a .232 average, and with 107 strikeouts, was 4th
in the league in that dubious stat.

In '63, Jerry was back to his utility infielder role, and
split his time evenly between second and short, and
in the 86 games he was in, hit for a .205 average.

In June of '64, Jerry was traded to the Twins, and
would hit for a combined .183 average.

In 1965, the year the Twins won the pennant, Jerry
was in 125 games, but, sporting a .196 average, he
didn't play in the series.

His lifetime batting average was .213.

Jerry did stay in baseball. He was head coach of
Arizona's baseball team for 24 years, leading them
to three College World Series titles, and was coach
of the year twice. The baseball field at Arizona is
named Kindall Field in his honor. To see a great picture
of Jerry taken in 1998, and read more about his life after
Major League baseball, go he

http://wildcat.arizona.edu/papers/91/155b/10_1_m.html
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John Wade