Orie Kerlin

Orie Milton Kerlin (January 23, 1891 – October 29, 1974), known also as Cy Kerlin, was a professional baseball player whose career spanned one season (1915). During that season, he played with the Major League Baseball (MLB) Pittsburgh Rebels of the Federal League. Kerlin appeared in three games with the Rebels, never getting a hit in one at-bat. Defensively, he played the catcher position. He batted left-handed while throwing right. During his playing career, he stood at 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) and weighed 149 pounds (68 kg). Before turning professional, Kerlin attended Louisiana State University. After his baseball career was over, Kerlin returned to his home-town of Homer, Louisiana and worked various jobs, including a merchant, undertaker, and president of a sawmill.

Orie Kerlin
Catcher
Born: (1891-01-23)January 23, 1891
Summerfield, Louisiana
Died: October 29, 1974(1974-10-29) (aged 83)
Corpus Christi, Texas
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 6, 1915, for the Pittsburgh Rebels
Last MLB appearance
September 1, 1915, for the Pittsburgh Rebels
MLB statistics
Games played3
At-bats1
Hits0
Teams

Biography

Orie Kerlin was born on January 23, 1891 in Summerfield, Louisiana to Marcellus L. and Mary A. Kerlin of Louisiana and Mississippi, respectively.[1][2] Marcellus Kerlin worked as a merchant in a hardware store.[2] Orie Kerlin had seven siblings: sisters Faye, Christeen, and Dorothy; and brothers William, Douglas, Brock, and Cellers.[2] By 1900, the Kerlin family was living in Homer, Louisiana.[3] Orie Kerlin enrolled at Louisiana State University in 1910.[4] He left the school five years later, in 1915.[4]

Kerlin started playing baseball early in his life.[5] The Gazette Times reported that Kerlin played semi-professional baseball Texas for a few years.[5] They also reported that he played a few games in the Texas League.[5] In December 1914, Kerlin was signed by the Pittsburgh Rebels of the Federal League, a newly formed circuit in Major League Baseball.[5] Kerlin was discovered by Pittsburgh's manager, Rebel Oakes, who lived in the same town as Kerlin, Homer, Louisiana.[5] The transaction was not officially announced until spring training in 1915.[5] Kerlin was used as Pittsburgh's third catcher, behind Claude Berry, and Paddy O'Connor.[5] Oakes described Kerlin as being "fast as lightning, a fair batter, and a half-decent catcher".[5]

Early in the 1915 season, Kerlin suffered an injury to his finger, causing him to miss two days of practice with the Pittsburgh Rebels.[6][7] During the season, The Pittsburgh Press commented that while Kerlin showed promise as a catcher, he was just too ripe and young to receive the bulk of Pittsburgh's catching duties.[8][9][10] Frank G. Menke of the International News Service stated that Kerlin was a "coming wonder" and that he could "hit, throw, and catch in big-league fashion".[11] Kerlin made his MLB debut mid-season on June 6, 1915 against the Chicago Whales.[1][12] His second game came on July 8, against the St. Louis Terriers.[13] He made his final MLB appearance on September 1.[1] Over his three games with Pittsburgh, he went hitless in one at-bat.[1] In the field, Kerlin played all three of his games at catcher, making no errors, and allowing one passed ball.[1]

By 1920, Kerlin was living with his parents back in Homer, Louisiana.[14] He worked at Fomby Hardware Store in Homer with his father.[14][15] A few years later, Kerlin worked as the town undertaker.[15] Kerlin also worked as the president of the local sawmill.[16] By 1930, he was married to Lillian Kerlin of Louisiana.[16] The Kerlins had two children, daughters June and Marthe.[16] Kerlin died on October 29, 1974, in Corpus Christi, Texas, although some sources state he died in Shreveport, Louisiana.[1][17] He was buried at Arlington Cemetery in Homer, Louisiana.[1]

References
  1. "Orie Kerlin Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  2. "1910 United States Census". U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Federal Government. 1910. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. "1900 United States Census". U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Federal Government. 1900. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  4. "Louisiana State University Baseball Players". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  5. "Young Catcher Is Signed By Rebels". The Gazette Times. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 8 March 1915. p. 8.
  6. "Jinx Pursues Local Feds On Training Trip". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 14 March 1915. p. 34.
  7. "Piffed Players in First Batting Slump of Year". The Gazette Times. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 14 March 1915. p. 18.
  8. "Rebels Playing St. Louis". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 4 April 1915. p. 34.
  9. "Knetzer to Pitch Opener". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 8 July 1915. p. 34.
  10. "Oakes May Stay Out". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 11 March 1915. p. 34.
  11. Menke, Frank C. (20 March 1915). "In The World Of Sports". The Oxnard Daily Courier. Oxnard, California. International News Service. p. 18.
  12. "Chifeds Take Slugging Game". New York Times (subscription required). New York City, New York. 7 June 1915. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  13. "Knetzer Spills St. Louis Feds". New York Times (subscription required). New York City, New York. 8 July 1915. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  14. "1920 United States Census". U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Federal Government. 1920. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  15. Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum (2008). Claiborne Parish. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-7385-5412-9.
  16. "1930 United States Census". U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Federal Government. 1930. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  17. "Social Security Death Index". Social Security Administration. U.S. Federal Government. Missing or empty |url= (help)
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