Kelleher started his Minor League baseball career with the Hazelton Mountaineers in the New York–Pennsylvania League in 1934. After a 13 win season in 1935, Kelleher was promoted to the Philadelphia Phillies late in the season.[1]
Major League Baseball career
On September 17, 1935, in his first Major League game, Kelleher pitched a 1–0 shutout against the Cincinnati Reds. Kelleher won his first two decisions that season.[2] He was also the sixth youngest player in the National League that season.[2] In 1936, Kelleher pitched 14 games, starting four. He had a 0–5 win–loss record with a 5.32 earned run average.[2] A low point of the season was when he gave up five runs during the fifth inning against the New York Giants on May 23.[3]
Kelleher pitched a career high 27 games in 1937, winning 2 games and losing 4 in 58 innings, but his earned run average was considered a bad 6.63. That season he led the league in hit by pitch, hitting seven batters.[2] His last career victory was a 9–5 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 26, 1937, in a relief appearance. He pitched 21⁄3 innings, beating future Hall of FamerDizzy Dean in the process, who left the game with a "sore arm".[4] After having an 18.41 earned run average in six games during the 1938 season, Kelleher pitched his last game on May 5.[2] In that final game, he pitched 1 inning surrendering 12 runs, all earned, in the Phillies' 2–21 loss.[5]
His career record was 4–9 with a 5.95 earned run average in 50 career games.[2] He died in Cape May Court House, New Jersey, at the age of 75.