Hall of Famer George Kell Dead at 86

Hall of Famer George Kell Dead at 86

By The Associated Press - 3/24/2009 11:13:00 AM
(For audio and more on George Kell, click here.)

LITTLE ROCK - George Kell, a Hall of Fame third baseman who outdueled Ted Williams for the 1949 American League batting title and finished his career with a batting average of .306, died Tuesday morning. He was 86.

Kell played 14 years in the American League with Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston, Chicago and Baltimore. He won the AL batting title in 1949 when he hit .34291 and Ted Williams hit .34276. Kell hit more than .300 nine times and was selected to play in 10 All-Star games.

After his playing days, Kell was a Detroit Tigers broadcaster from 1959 to 1996.

Kell grew up in Swifton, Ark., and lived in the same house from his birth to when it burned down in 2001, then rebuilt on the same land. He was severely injured in a car crash in December 2004, but was able to walk again with a cane about six months later.

Jackson's Funeral Home in Newport, Ark., confirmed the death.

Kell played from 1943-1957 with five American League teams - the Philadelphia Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles. He batted over .300 each year from 1946-53. He played for the Tigers during his batting duel with Williams, who played for the Red Sox.

Longtime Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell told WWJ-AM in Detroit on Tuesday that Kell was accomplished both on the baseball field and in the broadcast booth. The men became close friends working together in TV and on the radio.

- more at www.arkansasbusiness.com/sports_printable.asp?aID=113278