Michael Joseph "King" Kelly (December 31, 1857 – November 8, 1894) was an American
right fielder,
catcher, and
manager in various professional American baseball leagues including the
National League,
International Association,
Players' League, and the
American Association. He spent the majority of his 16-season playing career with the
Chicago White Stockings and the
Boston Beaneaters. Kelly was a
player-manager three times in his career – in 1887 for the Beaneaters, in 1890 leading the
Boston Reds to the
pennant in the only season of the Players' League's existence, and in 1891 for the
Cincinnati Kelly's Killers – before his retirement in 1893. He is also often credited with helping to popularize various strategies as a player such as the
hit and run, the hook slide, and the catcher's practice of backing up first base.