Bill Killefer
When he was purchased from the Phillies by the Cubs in December 1917, catcher “Reindeer” Bill Killefer was the undercard—it was pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander who was the big prize among Chicago fans. But those who knew the game knew that Killefer, despite his weakness as a hitter, could have nearly as big an impact on the team as Alexander. And those who knew Alexander knew that he would not want to be separated from Killefer, his best friend and batterymate. The pair had been together since they arrived in Philadelphia in 1911.
After they were dealt to Chicago, it was Alexander who wound up leaving, being called into the army in April. But Killefer helped keep the rotation stable. As Cubs manager Fred Mitchell, in an interview with Baseball Magazine, would say of Killefer, “Above most other things, I appreciate the work of Killefer, who has been the backbone of my defense. But Killefer’s work has shown mainly through that of the pitching staff.”
Bill Killefer having a look at the camera. (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.)Killefer was just a .238 hitter over the course of his career and, despite turning in a career-best .274 in 1917 in Philadelphia, he was back in his normal batting range (.233) in 1918. He would, later, note that he wasn’t exactly feeling 100 percent throughout the course of the season, telling the Tribune after the 1918 season, “I didn’t feel good at any time last year. I had more little troubles and ailments than I ever had in a season before.”
But, as Mitchell noted, Killefer’s bat was unimportant. He did his best work behind the plate, where he had a great reputation for reading his pitchers, knowing opposing batters and calling a game. Under the guidance of Killefer, the Cubs’ top two starters (Hippo Vaughn and Lefty Tyler) had the best seasons of their careers, the No. 3 starter (Claude Hendrix) led the league in winning percentage and the No. 4 starter (Phil Douglas) had what was, until then, a career-best year. The team led the league in ERA at 2.18, well ahead of the N.L.’s second-best, Pittsburgh, at 2.48.
Killefer was also a typical 1918 ballplayer, dealing with the complicated entanglement of the U.S. Army’s draft and the uncertain status of baseball during wartime. He had been married the previous October and the assumption was that, as a married man, he would not be Class 1A, those who would be first to be drafted. But as the nation’s draft system was revamped, men who were married after the draft was instituted were bumped up into Class 1A. In the middle of April 1918, just as the season was getting under way, Killefer was informed that he would be Class 1A, and spent much of the year worrying that he would be called.
He was, eventually, drafted into the army. In September, immediately after the 1918 World Series, Killefer returned to Weeghman Park to find his draft notice waiting for him in his locker. He reported to Camp Custer in Michigan, but the war ended before he was sent overseas.
Killefer would play three more seasons for the Cubs after 1918, taking over as manager in 1921. He would remain the Cub manager until 1925, when he was fired after 73 games. He would later manage the St. Louis Browns for three-plus years, and remained in baseball as a coach or scout for nearly 50 years.
