Monty Kennedy – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Baseball fans sometimes wonder about those players who flashed real promise but never quite made it to superstar status. Montia Calvin Kennedy, or Monty Kennedy, definitely fits that bill. He grabbed attention with his blazing fastball over eight seasons with the New York Giants from 1946 to 1953.

Kennedy stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 185 pounds, a lefty from Amelia, Virginia. His raw talent had people comparing him to Giants legend Carl Hubbell.

Kennedy threw with serious speed, but control issues dogged him throughout his career. He often walked more batters than he struck out, yet he still managed to rack up 42 wins and 55 losses in 255 games.

He grew up on a Virginia farm and even served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, where he kept pitching and sharpening his game.

Monty Kennedy’s journey really shines a light on the challenges young pitchers faced after the war. He had some big moments—like pitching in the 1951 World Series and tossing a no-hitter in the minors. Still, he ended up as one of those “what could have been” stories that scouts still talk about.

From his surprising debut in the majors to his last year in 1953, Kennedy’s story shows just how thin the line can be between making it big and falling short in pro sports.

Early Life and Background

Montia Calvin Kennedy was born May 11, 1922, in Amelia, Virginia, southwest of Richmond. He spent his early years working on the family farm and didn’t even start pitching until later in high school.

Birth and Hometown

Monty Kennedy came from a farming family in Amelia County’s Jackson township. His parents, Garland Britton Kennedy and Daisy Etta Anderson Kennedy, moved to Virginia from North Carolina.

Garland, born in 1893, worked the farm. Daisy, born in 1890, ran the house and kept everything together.

Monty was the only boy in a family of six kids. He had two older sisters, Hazel and Gladys, born in 1914 and 1916.

Three younger sisters—Josephine, Mable, and Mollie—rounded out the family. Life on the farm in rural Virginia was pretty typical for a future American professional baseball player.

After three years of high school, Kennedy left school to work full-time as a farmhand. He wanted to help his family keep things going.

Early Baseball Experiences

Kennedy didn’t take the usual path to pro baseball. He started out as a first baseman at his high school in Amelia County, mostly because his defense wasn’t quite there yet for other positions.

He only started pitching regularly late in high school. Even then, he was still learning the ropes.

In 1942, the Washington Senators came to Richmond for an exhibition game. Kennedy got a shot to try out for them before the game.

He pitched well, but the Senators decided he was too young and not quite polished enough for the pros. That could’ve been it, but the Richmond Colts of the Class B Piedmont League noticed him.

The Colts signed Kennedy for $150 a month. He jumped into pro ball with hardly any experience, but everyone could see he had potential.

Major League Debut and Early Career

Kennedy debuted for the New York Giants on April 18, 1946, at 23. He impressed everyone in spring training with his speed, but control was always a struggle.

Joining the New York Giants

During spring training in Phoenix, Arizona, 1946, Kennedy caught the Giants’ eye. He’d only pitched 17 pro innings, but his fastball stood out to manager Mel Ott and the coaches.

The Giants bought his contract from Richmond for $25,000 after he outdueled veteran Bob Feller in a spring game. A reporter even said Kennedy “displayed more speed, struck out more men and yielded less than one-third the number of hits allowed by Feller.”

Catcher Ernie Lombardi said Kennedy reminded him of Johnny Vander Meer. Coaches like Tom Sheehan started calling him “the new Carl Hubbell.”

Kennedy roomed with veteran catcher Walker Cooper, who called him “one of the best prospects he ever saw.”

1946 Rookie Season

Kennedy made his MLB debut on April 18, 1946, against the Brooklyn Dodgers. He came in for three innings of relief, gave up just one hit, and struck out one.

His first start came on April 25 versus the Boston Braves. He pitched 5⅓ innings, allowed four runs, but three were unearned after a fielding error by right fielder Willard Marshall.

Kennedy won his next two starts against the Cubs and Braves, both by 5-1 scores. He went the distance in both games.

He finished his rookie year with a 9-10 record and a 3.42 ERA in 186⅔ innings. With 10 complete games, he was one of only three NL rookies to hit that mark.

Pitching in the National League

Kennedy’s rookie year showed what he could do—and what held him back. He led the NL with just 7.38 hits allowed per nine innings. When he had his control, hitters just couldn’t square him up.

But he also led the league with 116 walks. Control issues followed him everywhere, especially in those early years.

1946 Season Statistics:

• Wins: 9
• Losses: 10
• ERA: 3.42
• Innings Pitched: 186⅔
• Bases on Balls: 116

His best game that year? In August, he threw a 10-inning shutout against the Pirates, allowing only five hits and helping his own cause at the plate with a single, double, and a sacrifice bunt.

Kennedy flashed real brilliance, but inconsistency was his enemy. He often lost the strike zone, which meant high pitch counts and early hooks.

Role and Performance on the Mound

Kennedy spent eight seasons with the Giants, from 1946 to 1953. He started out as a regular starter, but later shifted to relief and spot starts, piling up 961 innings over 255 games.

Starting Pitcher Years

Kennedy broke in as a regular starter in his first few seasons. In 1946, he had a 9-10 record with a 3.42 ERA over 186⅔ innings.

He threw 10 complete games as a rookie, right up there with Ewell Blackwell and Joe Hatten among NL rookies. That fastball made him tough to hit when he got it over.

He led the league with just 7.38 hits allowed per nine innings in 1946, showing how effective he could be when his control held up.

But those control problems just never went away. He walked 116 batters in ’46 and usually walked more than he struck out.

His 1947 season started rough, but he turned things around in May and June. He tossed five complete-game wins in eight starts and dropped his ERA to 3.21 by the end of June.

Relief and Spot Starter Roles

By 1950, the Giants started using Kennedy more out of the bullpen. Manager Leo Durocher tried him in different roles, hoping to get the most out of his arm despite the wildness.

Kennedy ended up pitching in 255 career games, but started less as the years went on. The move to the bullpen helped him stick around through 1953.

He pitched in the 1951 World Series against the Yankees, coming out of the pen in Games Four and Five. He played a part in that pennant-winning season.

Kennedy came into some big spots as a reliever. The fastball was still there, but the walks kept piling up.

He made his last MLB appearance on September 12, 1953, at 31. Kennedy wrapped up his career with 42 wins and 55 losses over eight seasons.

Swing Man Contributions

Kennedy’s ability to pitch as both a starter and reliever made him a real asset for the Giants. He could step in wherever the team needed him.

He finished with 411 strikeouts and a 3.84 ERA across 961 innings. Not exactly Hall of Fame numbers, but he contributed in plenty of ways.

His swing man role kept him in the big leagues longer than you might expect, given the control problems. The fastball and those flashes of dominance probably bought him extra chances.

The Giants leaned on Kennedy to eat up innings when they needed it. He was always willing to take the ball, no matter the situation.

Career Highlights and Notable Seasons

Kennedy had some seasons where his talent really showed. His 1947 campaign was a breakthrough, and 1949 was his heaviest workload year.

1947 and 1949 Seasons

Kennedy started 1947 with two rough outings, but things clicked in May and June. He rattled off five complete-game wins in eight starts.

By the end of June, he was 6-3 with a 3.21 ERA. Then, disaster struck—on June 19, a line drive during batting practice knocked him unconscious.

He spent four days in Presbyterian Hospital. After coming back, he just couldn’t get back to his earlier form that season.

Kennedy ended 1947 with a 9-12 record and a career-worst 4.85 ERA.

In 1949, he finally broke the 200-inning mark. That was the only time he did it, and it showed he could handle a full starter’s load, even if the walks never really went away.

Statistical Achievements

Kennedy finished his career with 42 wins and 55 losses over eight seasons, all with the Giants. He posted a 3.84 ERA and struck out 411 in 255 games.

In his rookie year, he went 9-10 with a 3.42 ERA in 186⅔ innings. He led the NL by allowing only 7.38 hits per nine innings, which really says something about his stuff when he was on.

But he also led the league with 116 walks that year. That lack of control haunted him for most of his career—he only managed to walk fewer than he struck out in two seasons.

Kennedy’s 10 complete games as a rookie tied him with Ewell Blackwell and Joe Hatten for most among NL rookies. One of his best performances came in the minors in 1948, when he threw a no-hitter for Minneapolis against Louisville.

1951 Giants and Pennant Race

The 1951 season turned into one of baseball’s wildest comebacks. The Giants erased a 13-game deficit in August to force a playoff with the Brooklyn Dodgers. That pennant race ended with Bobby Thomson’s legendary walk-off home run, sending New York to the World Series.

Comeback Against Brooklyn Dodgers

The Brooklyn Dodgers came out hot in the early months of the 1951 season. By August, they built a massive 13-game lead over the Giants in the National League standings.

The Giants just wouldn’t give up. In mid-August, they kicked off their historic charge with a string of crucial wins.

During one wild stretch, the team rattled off 16 straight victories and started eating away at Brooklyn’s lead.

Manager Leo Durocher kept his squad steady and relentless as the season wound down. The Giants took 37 out of their final 44 regular season games, which really put the heat on the Dodgers.

Brooklyn couldn’t keep up their early pace. They started dropping games they should’ve won, and a mix of key injuries and shaky pitching threw off their shot at clinching the pennant outright.

The Giants stayed hot through September, knocking off the Dodgers in some huge head-to-head games. By the last day of the regular season, both teams stood tied at 96-58.

Three-Game Playoff

The National League set up a best-of-three playoff to decide the pennant. Game one happened at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn on October 1, 1951.

The Giants grabbed the opener 3-1 thanks to Jim Hearn’s strong pitching. Bobby Thomson knocked in two runs with a single and a sacrifice fly, giving New York some real momentum heading into game two.

Brooklyn answered back at the Polo Grounds in game two, crushing the Giants 10-0 behind Clem Labine’s shutout. Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges led the way with their bats.

The all-or-nothing third game was set for October 3 at the Polo Grounds. Both teams knew the winner would face the New York Yankees in the World Series, while the loser would just head home.

Bobby Thomson’s Historic Home Run

That final game stayed tight all nine innings. Brooklyn carried a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth, and most fans probably expected the Dodgers to finish it off.

The Giants, though, started a rally against Don Newcombe. Alvin Dark and Don Mueller both got on base.

Monte Irvin popped out, but Whitey Lockman doubled, scoring Dark and moving Mueller to third.

Dodgers manager Chuck Dressen pulled Newcombe and brought in Ralph Branca. Bobby Thomson stepped up with runners on second and third.

Branca threw a strike, then delivered his next pitch. Thomson swung and launched it into the left field stands.

That three-run homer gave the Giants a 5-4 victory and the 1951 pennant. Radio announcer Russ Hodges captured the moment with his famous call: “The Giants win the pennant!”

People started calling it “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World.” It capped off one of the greatest comebacks in baseball and sent the Giants to their first World Series since 1937.

1951 World Series and Postseason Impact

Monty Kennedy reached the high point of his baseball career during the 1951 World Series, pitching in two games as a reliever for the New York Giants against the defending champion New York Yankees.

Kennedy pitched three innings total, struck out four, gave up three hits and one home run, and ended with a 6.00 ERA in what turned out to be his only World Series appearance.

Performance in the Fall Classic

Kennedy entered the 1951 World Series after his best regular season in years. He’d put up a 2.25 ERA over 68 innings, mostly out of the bullpen.

The Giants called on Kennedy in Games Four and Five. He threw one inning in Game Four and two in Game Five, both times coming in as relief.

Kennedy gave up two earned runs across his three innings. He surrendered a home run but still managed to strike out four Yankees, showing he could hang with the best.

His World Series numbers included a 1.333 WHIP and 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings. Those stats show both his struggles and flashes of potential on baseball’s biggest stage.

Facing the New York Yankees

The Yankees came into the 1951 World Series as two-time defending champs, chasing a third straight title. Kennedy had to face one of the toughest lineups in baseball history.

The Yankees’ roster boasted several future Hall of Famers. Kennedy found himself pitching to legends like Joe DiMaggio, who was playing in his final World Series, and young stars like Mickey Mantle.

New York’s deep lineup challenged every Giants pitcher. The Yankees ended up winning the series in six games, grabbing their 14th World Championship.

Kennedy’s relief outings came in key spots where the Giants needed to keep things close. His strikeout ability gave the team some hope, even if the final outcome wasn’t what they wanted.

Notable Matchups: Joe DiMaggio, Gene Woodling, Phil Rizzuto, Larry Jansen

Kennedy faced Joe DiMaggio during DiMaggio’s last World Series. The Yankee Clipper was 36 and announced his retirement after it ended.

Gene Woodling and Phil Rizzuto played major roles on the Yankees’ championship squad, both coming off strong offensive seasons.

Larry Jansen, Kennedy’s teammate, anchored the Giants’ rotation as the ace. Jansen started several games, while Kennedy chipped in with relief work when it counted.

The series marked an era’s end with DiMaggio’s retirement. Kennedy’s time on the mound tied him to this historic moment, pitching against legends during their final title run.

Final MLB Years and Retirement

Kennedy’s last two seasons with the New York Giants wrapped up an eight-year MLB career that finished in 1953. He left pro baseball after ongoing control issues that had dogged him his entire time in the majors.

1952 and 1953 Seasons

Kennedy’s role with the Giants changed a lot in his final years. He shifted mostly to relief after starting earlier in his career.

Control problems kept limiting him. These issues had been there all along, holding him back from reaching his full potential, even though he had a blazing fastball.

In 1953, Kennedy made his final appearances in pro baseball. His eight-year career ended with 42 wins and 55 losses.

Kennedy finished with a 3.84 ERA and 411 strikeouts over 961 innings. He appeared in the 1951 World Series against the Yankees, pitching three innings in Games Four and Five without getting a decision.

Transition Out of Professional Baseball

Kennedy’s retirement from MLB came at 31 in 1953. He left behind a career full of flashes of brilliance but never quite found consistency.

People in Virginia often called him “one case that immediately comes to mind” when talking about players who had loads of potential but never quite put it all together. He barely spent any time in the minors, partly because military service interrupted his development, and that might’ve played a role in his control problems.

After baseball, Kennedy went back to his home state. He settled in Midlothian, Virginia, and lived there until his death in 1997.

His journey took him from a farm in Amelia County all the way to the majors. Despite the bumps, Kennedy made it—he played eight seasons at the game’s highest level.

Career Statistics and Legacy

Monty Kennedy spent eight seasons with the New York Giants, finishing with 42 wins, 55 losses, and a 3.84 ERA over 255 games. His fastball and control issues defined his time in the big leagues, but he helped the Giants during some key years in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Overall MLB Stats

Kennedy put up solid numbers from 1946 to 1953. He tossed 961 innings for the Giants, struck out 411, and kept a 3.84 ERA.

His rookie year in 1946 was his best. Kennedy went 9-10 with a 3.42 ERA in 186⅔ innings and led the National League by allowing just 7.38 hits per nine innings.

Control problems haunted him year after year. Kennedy walked 116 batters as a rookie, leading the league, and he walked more batters than he struck out in all but two of his seasons.

Key Career Numbers:

• Games: 255
• Wins: 42
• Losses: 55
• ERA: 3.84
• Strikeouts: 411
• Innings Pitched: 961

Impact on the New York Giants

Kennedy bounced between starting and relieving for the Giants during his eight years. His rookie season gave the most hope—he threw 10 complete games and helped steady the rotation.

The left-handed pitcher had a fastball that wowed teammates and opponents. Catcher Ernie Lombardi compared the way hitters reacted to Kennedy to the intimidation of Johnny Vander Meer.

Kennedy’s inconsistency kept him from having a bigger impact on the Giants’ fortunes. In his last season, 1953, he pitched in 18 games and the Giants lost every one. He ended that year with a rough 7.15 ERA.

Still, Kennedy gave the Giants valuable innings during his best years. In 1948, he finished strong, tossing five complete games in six starts.

Recognition Within Major League Baseball

Kennedy got noticed for his exceptional fastball speed during spring training in 1946. Manager Mel Ott and coach Tom Sheehan even compared him to Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell.

He threw a no-hitter in the minors for Minneapolis in 1948, walking three and striking out 10 against Louisville. That was Minneapolis’s first no-hitter in 33 years.

Cardinals pitcher Mort Cooper once said Kennedy would become “the best lefty in the league in three years” after facing him in 1946. Broadcaster Dizzy Dean also talked up Kennedy’s potential.

People mostly remembered Kennedy for his raw talent, not consistent results. Missing out on minor league development due to military service may have kept him from ever really mastering his control.

Personal Life and Post-Baseball Endeavors

Montia Calvin Kennedy’s life stretched far beyond his eight years with the Giants. After retiring in 1953, he went back to his Virginia roots and slipped out of the spotlight that once followed his fastball.

Life After Baseball

Kennedy returned to Virginia when his playing days ended. He settled in the Richmond area, not far from Amelia County where he was born.

He’d already started a family during his career, welcoming a daughter named Pat in 1944 while serving in the Army Air Corps.

There’s not much out there about Kennedy’s career after baseball. Like a lot of players from his era, he probably needed a regular job to support his family since baseball salaries weren’t anything like they are now.

Kennedy kept a pretty private life after retiring. He stayed in Virginia for the rest of his days, staying close to the place where he first learned the game.

Lasting Influence

People mostly remember Kennedy’s impact on baseball for his flashes of brilliance, even if they were brief. That no-hitter he threw for the Minneapolis Millers on June 10, 1948, stands out as a huge moment in his career.

He struck out 10 batters and only walked three that day, which really showed the control he’d spent years trying to master.

Montia Calvin Kennedy died on March 1, 1997, in Midlothian, Virginia, when he was 74. They buried him at Dale Memorial Park in Chesterfield, Virginia.

His career stats—42 wins and 55 losses—only tell part of the story. He struggled with control at times, but you can’t deny he had real talent.

Now and then, sportswriters bring up Kennedy when they talk about players who never quite lived up to the hype. That fastball of his, and all the expectations during his rookie year, have kind of become part of baseball lore about prospects who never fully reached their potential.