Hall of Famer Kell still enjoys namesake tournament, astonished by rising baseball salaries

Swifton native and Hall of Fame third baseman George Kell watches Lady Wildcats take on Weiner in the Kell Classic. (Democrat photo/Mark Randall)

But when January rolls around, the name George Kell takes on a whole other meaning to the people of Northeast Arkansas and his hometown of Swifton.

It marks the start of the annual George Kell Classic high school basketball tournament.

Although not a huge basketball fan, each year for the last 20 plus years Kell has faithfully made an appearance at the tournament which bears his name to support his beloved hometown.

"I like it because I am helping to promote something my school here likes," Kell said. "They really get wrapped up in this tournament every year. It's been a great tournament for twenty some years.

"And I enjoy it. The people here in Swifton support it 100 percent and enjoy it so much that I would do nothing to keep from promoting it."

Kell, now 86, and slowed by limited mobility, has lived in Swifton -- population 800- all of his life.

He still goes to the post office each morning to gather his fan mail which he reads and takes time to personally answer each letter.

"I'm sitting here with about 20 letters and packages in front of me that people send every day," Kell said. "People want me to sign their stuff and mail it back to them. And I do. I answer all of them. I'll have them out by noon and back at the Post Office."

Most of the autograph requests are from true fans. Every once in a while he gets taken advantage of from sports dealers who want him to sign ten or more autographs at a time.

Sports memorabilia has become big business these days.

While he still obliges, he lets them know that if they send him any more they will have to accompany their request with a donation to his church for each additional autograph.

"I have a note made up that I send with it. But do you think that stops them?" Kell said. "It doesn't even slow them down. They're not doing it for themselves. Someone who wants your autograph, what does he want it ten times for?"

Kell said he is surprised people still know who he is considering that he hasn't swung a bat in a game in over fifty years.

"I haven't played ball in years," Kell said. "But they still know me. They know more about my career than I do."

Kell still follows baseball. He and his wife , Carolyn, have a satellite television in their den which allows him to keep up with the Tigers. He also roots for the St. Louis Cardinals.

"I was born and raised a Cardinals fan," Kell said. "But I still watch the Tigers. That's where I drew my paycheck for 40 year. That's where my loyalty still lies."

Kell started his career with the Philadelphia A's but was traded to Detroit on May 18, 1946 for Barney McCosky.

George Kell played 15 seasons in the Major Leagues including six years with the Detroit Tigers. He finished with a .306 career batting average including a batting title in 1949 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983. (Photo courtesy of Detroit Tigers)

Kell learned of the trade while riding in the elevator with A's owner Connie Mack. He said he felt rejected at the time. And for Tigers fans the trade was a complete surprise because McCosky had been a fan favorite, helping the Tigers win the 1940 American League pennant.

But any misgivings he or Tigers fans may have had quickly disappeared. Kell got a hit in each game of a double header against Boston in his first outing with the Tigers and would hit .300 in each of the six seasons he spent in Detroit.

And in 1947, when fans were given the opportunity to select the starting teams for the All-Star team, Kell was voted to start at third base and would play in 10 All-Star games in his career including a run of eight consecutive All-Star game appearances. In 1950, he received more All-Star votes than any other player in either league.

He was traded to Boston in 1952 and later played for the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles before calling at a career in 1957 after 15 seasons in the majors. Kell finished with a .306 lifetime batting average including a batting championship in 1949 which he won on the final day of the season, beating out Ted Williams .3429 to .3427 and denying the Red Sox great what would have been his third Triple Crown in one of the closest batting titles in history.

Williams led the league in batting most of the season, but Kell closed in fast despite having broken a bone in his right foot which was followed later in the year by a broken left thumb. Kell was ten points behind on Sept. 23, when he returned to the Tigers line up.

Kell came to the park on the final day of the season with a chance to win the batting title, trailing Williams .344 to .341. Williams went 0-for-2 with two walks against Vic Raschi and the Yankees.

Kell singled in his first at bat against Indians starter Bob Lemon then later doubled. Lemon was relieved after five innings by Bob Feller. Feller walked Kell in the sixth then got him to fly out in the seventh.

He was scheduled to bat fourth in the ninth inning.

"Word came down from the press box that I had won the batting title if I didn't make an out," Kell said.

With Kell in the on-deck circle, Tigers manager Red Rolfe was prepared to use a pinch hitter, but Eddie Lake bounced in to a game-ending double play giving Kell the batting title by two thousands of a point.

Feller later told Kell that he would have either walked him or hit him.

"I said 'don't ever hit me,'" Kell said. "He threw 100 miles an hour."

Kell also held the American League record for fewest errors by a third baseman with nine for 24 years and led A.L. third baseman in fielding percentage nine times.

He switched to the broadcasting booth in 1958 doing the pre-game and post game shows with Dizzy Dean for the CBS "Game of the Week" then later joined the Tigers and stayed on as a television announcer until 1996.

He threw out the ceremonial first pitch in the 2006 World Series at Comerica Park when the Tigers played the Cardinals, but hasn't been able to attend a game since. Kell uses a cane to get around which makes traveling difficult these days.

Kell said he thinks Tigers owner Mike Ilitch and general manager Dave Dombrowski have done an excellent job in reviving the Tigers. The team suffered through numerous consecutive losing seasons including a record 119 loss season in 2003.

"So far he (Ilitch) has been a good spender," Kell said. "And (Dombrowski) is number one of all the general managers that I know. He has a good eye for talent and just does things right."

He's astonished though by the high salaries players receive today. So far this year the New York Yankees have spent $161 million for free agent pitcher C.C. Sabathia over eight years, $82.5 million over five years for pitcher A.J. Burnet and $180 million for first baseman Mark Teixeira.

The Yankees now have the four of baseball's highest contracts in the game including Alex Rodriguez's 10 year $275 million contract.

"I can not believe the money that is being spent -- most of it by the Yankees," Kell said. "I just can not believe what they are paying these ballplayers today. It's just an un-Godly amount of money."

The Yankees $200 million payroll though only got them a third place finish in 2007. His own former team, the Tigers, learned a similar lesson last season. The Tigers were one of the biggest spenders during last year's offseason and were picked by many as one of the teams to beat but finished in fourth place.

"You can't purchase a pennant winner," Kell said. "It just doesn't work."

Kell made $8,500 his first year in Detroit.

The most he ever earned was $45,000 which was considerable in those days. Joe DiMaggio had the highest salary back then at $100,000.

"I started having god years hitting .300 or better every year and first thing I knew I was up to $45,000," Kell said. "It was the second highest salary on my club in Detroit. Hal Newhouser was making $75,000. That was the next highest. And nobody made $40,000."

Kell just laughs when asked how much he thinks he could earn in today's market in his prime.

Detroit' current All-Star third baseman, Carlos Guillen, hit .286 with 10 home runs and 54 RBI's in 2008 and earned $12 million.

"That's a lot of money," Kell said.