Bill Kelso

Who was Bill Kelso?

William Eugene Kelso was an American professional baseball player who played four seasons for the Los Angeles/California Angels and Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball.

A multi-sport athlete at North Kansas City High School in Kansas City, Missouri from which he graduated in 1958, he was a three-year letter-winner in baseball, football and basketball and earned one letter in track. He was all-state his senior year in both football and basketball. He was on the 1957 basketball team that reached the Missouri state finals. He was also a member of amateur baseball’s Ban Johnson League Hall of Fame.

He earned a scholarship to the University of Kansas and while attending there he was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1962. He was drafted by the Angels in the December 1963 Rule 5 Draft. He made his major-league debut at age 24 on July 31, 1964. Pitching in relief of starter Aubrey Gatewood against the Boston Red Sox, Kelso entered the game in the fifth inning and struck out the first batter he faced, Frank Malzone. In 2.2 innings, he game up no runs and one hit with two strikeouts and three walks in the 4-3 Angels loss at Dodger Stadium.