Charlie Keller Vintage Wallet

So who was Charlie Keller? Charles Ernest Keller, Jr. was born on September 12, 1916, on a 140-acre farm about 50 miles northwest of Washington, DC.  After graduating from the University of Maryland in 1937, Keller joined the Yankees in 1939 and quickly became the regular left fielder, with Tommy Henrich patrolling right field and Joe DiMaggio in center field. For much of ten American League seasons, Keller, DiMaggio, and Henrich formed one of the best-hitting outfields in baseball history.

At the University of Maryland, Keller was saddled with the nickname he never cared for, King Kong. In 1948, writer Milton Gross visited the team in spring training and reminded readers why Keller had received the appellation. Keller, Gross wrote, “looked massive. His black, beetle-browed eyes, his muscled blacksmith arms, his thick neck and hogshead of a chest were of wrestler’s proportions.” As Keller finally matured into the pull hitter the club had always desired, that impressive physique produced equally impressive results.

In a 13-season career, Keller was a .286 hitter with 189 home runs and 760 RBI in 1,170 games. 

Sources:

Wikipedia

Article written by Nelson 'Chip' Greene