Baseball player George Kelly, New York Giants first baseman, holding a baseball bat, standing in front of grandstands on the field at Weeghman Field prior to game against Chicago Cubs 1922 Photo SUMMARY
Informal three-quarter length portrait of baseball player George High Pockets Kelly, of the National League's New York Giants, holding a baseball bat, standing in front of grandstands on the field at Weeghman Field (later renamed Wrigley Field).  SDN-063537, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society. 

A life-time .297 batting average in 5,993 at bats

‘Highpockets Kelly, Oh Sure!… I remember him well,’ said one of our veteran baseballhistorian.com fans. ‘Kelly was the type of player who came through for manager John McGraw with the key hit to win many games for the New York Giants during the 1920s… And, I’ll tell you another thing, he was pleasant, hard working and above all, he played winning baseball.’ 

One of the few right-handed first basemen in MLB history, the muscular 6 ft 4 inch, 190-pound George Kelly led the National League in homers with 23 in 1921 when he also led the league in homer percentage with 3.9%. He led the NL twice in RBIs, with 94 in 1920 and 136 in 1924, and had five seasons of over 100 RBIs.

From 1920 thru 1925 George Highpockets Kelly had five straight seasons of at least 94 RBIs and the New York Giants finished in second place in ’20, then won four consecutive NL pennants, then finished in second place in '25. He made two outstanding fielding plays in the 1921 World Series, and while hitting fifth in the batting order scored 3 runs and had 3 RBIs to help the Giants defeat the NY Yankees 5 games to 3 (an eight game Series in this era). In the 1922 World Series George Kelly batted cleanup and singled to drive home the winning run in the last game of the Series to led the Giants to a 4 game sweep over the Yankees. Kelly got 5 hits in 18 at bats with 2 RBIs in the Series.

In the 1923 World Series George Kelly batting fifth lined 4 singles in 22 at bats, .182 with 1-Run and one RBI as the Giants lost to the Yankees 4 games to 2.

George Kelly batted leadoff in the entire 1924 World Series and was the hero as the Giants defeated the Washington Senators 4 games to 3. Highpockets Kelly lined seven singles, one double, and one homer in 31 at bats, a .290 batting average, scored a series high 7 runs and had 4 RBIs. In this Series, McGraw used George Kelly at first base, at second base and in the outfield.

In February of 1927 Kelly was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Edd Roush. In mid-1930 Kelly was sold to the Cubs.