King Kelly

7/6/1893 – The New York Giants difficulties batting in the correct order arose again just six days later. In a game at Louisville in which the home team was batting first, Michael “King” Kelly replaced Jocko Milligan at catcher in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, the number five hitter, Jack Doyle, was due to lead off, but Kelly who had replaced Milligan in the number six spot came up instead. He struck out, but the umpire Ed Seward, who had a bad day according to newspaper stories, allowed the out stand and also called Doyle out. Given the batting out of turn was being enforced, the correct call was to call Doyle out and have Kelly bat again. The next hitter reached third on a single and error, but the following one made the third out. The wrong ruling may have cost the Giants the game. It ended as an 11-11 tie after nine innings due to darkness.