Brickyard Kennedy

A native of Bellaire, Ohio, Kennedy posted a 187–159 record with 799 strikeouts and a 3.96 ERA in 3030 innings pitched over a twelve-year big-league career. Kennedy was a dominant pitcher in his first four seasons with Brooklyn, winning 25 games in 1893 and 24 in 1894. After averaging 17.5 victories over the next four seasons, he rebounded to win 22 in 1899 and 20 a year later. However, while pitching in 1901, he was bothered by arm problems and finished 3–5 in eight starts. He signed with the New York Giants at the end of the season.

In 1902, Kennedy made his first start with the Giants and pitched a shutout against his former team, 6–0, on four hits, his only win in a Giants uniform. Kennedy was purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Giants.

In 1903, Kennedy went 9–6 in 18 starts for the Pirates team that won the National League pennant. On his thirty-sixth birthday, Kennedy pitched in the first World Series. In Game Five, with Pittsburgh up three games to one, Kennedy faced Cy Young and the Boston Americans. Kennedy and Young each pitched five scoreless innings, until Honus Wagner committed two errors and Boston scored six runs. After giving up another four runs in the seventh, Kennedy was replaced; this wound up being his final career game, as he did not pitch again in the majors.

Kennedy died from tuberculosis in his hometown of Bellaire, Ohio, at the age of 47.

Though most modern-day references and sources continue to list Kennedy under his nickname "Brickyard", during his playing career, Kennedy was actually referred to as "Roaring Bill" Kennedy far more frequently than he was called "Brickyard".[2] He acquired the nickname "Roaring Bill" due to his loud, booming voice, as well as his tendency to become temperamental on the field.

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• Baseball Library