George Lange Kelly was a lanky, 6’4” first baseman whose MLB career spanned 16 years starting in 1915. Nicknamed both “Long George” and “High Pockets,” Kelly made it to the Majors as a 19-year-old and by 1920 had broken into the New York Giants starting lineup, the same year he tied Rogers Hornsby for the N.L. lead with 94 runs batted in. Though he would go on to play for six different teams during his big league career, his best seasons were spent with the Giants in the early 1920s when the team won four consecutive pennants. In 1921, Kelly led the Senior Circuit with 23 home runs and helped the Giants beat the Yankees in the Fall Classic, five games to three. The following season, the Giants won it all again with Kelly batting .328 with 17 home runs and 107 RBI. In 1925, he finished third in N.L. MVP voting after registering a .309 BA with 181 hits including 20 home runs and 99 RBI.
This lot offers what can possibly be the only known George Kelly signed baseball graded GEM MINT 10 by PSA. beautifully signed Rawlings Official League baseball that Kelly has autographed “George L. Kelly” across the sweet spot in black marker. The baseball is milky white and the signature is strong. After stints in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Chicago, Kelly would wrap up his career as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932. In all, “High Pockets” Kelly would post a career batting average of .297 with lifetime totals of 1,778 hits including 148 home runs, 76 triples and 1,020 RBI. He was inducted into Cooperstown by the Veterans Committee in 1973 and passed away in 1984. This signed baseball would be a significant addition to any baseball fan’s collection. Comes with full LOA from JSA and PSA.