George Washington Keefe (January 7, 1867 – August 24, 1935) was an American professional baseball left-handed starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals, Buffalo Bisons, and Washington Statesmen from 1886 to 1891.
Keefe was born in Washington, D.C., in 1867. In 1886, he joined the Washington Nationals of the National League (NL) and made his major league debut on July 30 at the age of 19. The sixth-youngest player in the league, he went 0âÂÂ3 with a 5.17 earned run average (ERA) in four games during his first big league season.
In 1887, Keefe appeared in only one game. He allowed 16 hits, four walks, and 20 runs (eight of which were earned) and completed (and lost) his only game of the season. He was also the sixth-youngest player in 1887.
In 1888, Keefe went 6âÂÂ7 with a 2.84 ERA in 13 starts for the Nationals. He spent most of the season with the Troy Trojans of the International Association. With Troy, he pitched 343 innings and went 10âÂÂ28 with a 3.46 ERA and 184 strikeouts.
Back with the Nationals in 1889, Keefe went 8âÂÂ18 with a 5.13 ERA, finishing fifth in the league in walks allowed (143) and seventh in losses. On May 1, he set the NL record for most walks in an inning, when he walked seven batters in the fifth inning. The record was subsequently tied by Bob Ewing and Tony Mullane, and Dolly Gray walked eight batters in an inning in 1909. Gray was an American League pitcher, however.
Keefe played for the Buffalo Bisons of the Players' League in 1890. That year, he went 6âÂÂ16 with a 6.52 ERA. He was ninth in the league in home runs allowed (11) and 10th in the league in losses. In 196 innings, he walked 138 batters and struck out only 55.
Keefe played his final MLB season in 1891 for the Washington Statesmen of the American Association. With the Statesmen, he went 0âÂÂ3 with a 2.68 ERA in five games (four starts). He played his final major league game on April 28.
During his MLB career, Keefe went 20âÂÂ48 in 78 games, 71 of which he started. He completed 68 games and had one shutout. In 616 innings, Keefe posted a 5.05 ERA, 360 walks, and 213 strikeouts. In 250 career at-bats, he hit .172.
Keefe then played in the minor leagues from 1892 to 1901.
Keefe died in Washington, D.C., in 1935. He was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland.