Keefe, Timothy J.
Baseball
b. Jan. 1, 1857, Cambridge, MA
d. April 23, 1933
After playing semi-pro baseball for four years, Keefe entered the minor leagues in 1879 and he joined the Troy team in the NL during the following season. A workhorse with a poor team, he had records of 18-27 in 1881 and 17-26 in 1882 before going to New York in the American Association, then a major league.
At the time, pitchers threw underhand from 50 feet away (the modern distance is 60 feet, 6 inches). Keefe had a 41-27 record in 1883, leading the league with 68 complete games in 68 starts, 619 innings pitched, and 361 shutouts. When the overhand delivery was legalized in 1884, he kept throwing underhand, and had a 37-17 record.
Keefe joined the NL New York team in 1885. In his second season there, he led the league in victories with a 42-20 record, in complete games with 62, and in innings pitched with 535. New York won the 1888 pennant, with Keefe leading in victories with a 35-12 record, in winning percentage at .745, in shutouts with 8, and in strikeouts with 335.
His last big season was 1889, when he was 28-13 on another pennant-winning team. He jumped to the New York team in the Players' League in 1890 and had a 17-11 record. That league folded after one season; Keefe returned to the NL with New York but was released early in the season, and he then went to Philadelphia.
After a 5-11 mark, he bounced back with a 19-16 record in 1892 and retired after going 10-7 in 1893. Keefe then spent two seasons as an umpire.
At a time when most pitchers relied on a fastball and an occasional curve, Keefe specialized in throwing the change-up. His advice to young pitchers was to learn control first and let speed come later.