Jim Keenan

Who was Jim Keenan?

James William Keenan was a Major League Baseball catcher. He played all or part of eleven seasons in the majors, between 1875 and 1891. He played most of his major league career with the Cincinnati Red Stockings of the American Association and later National League, after they became the Cincinnati Reds.

Keenan made his debut at age 17 with the New Haven Elm Citys of the National Association, but did not establish himself in the majors until 1884, when he became the regular catcher for the Indianapolis Hoosiers. He stayed in Indianapolis to start the 1885 season, with the city's entry in the Western League, but the league quickly folded, and he was acquired by the Detroit Wolverines.

Before he played a game for Detroit, however, Keenan jumped to the Red Stockings, where he split time at catcher with Pop Snyder. Over the next four seasons, he would split the catching duties for the Red Stockings with Kid Baldwin. In 1890 and 1891, he backed up Jerry Harrington.