Gene Kimball

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Stats
Game Logs
Given name: Eugene Boynton Kimball
Nicknames: None
Primary Pos: Secondbase
Hght/Wght: 5'10" / 160 lbs
Bats/Throws: None / None
Born: Aug 31, 1850 in Rochester, NY
Died: Aug 2, 1882 in Rochester, NY (31 years old)
Debut: May 4, 1871

Eugene Boynton Kimball (August 31, 1850 – August 2, 1882) was an American professional baseball player for the Cleveland Forest Citys during the 1871 season.

Kimball was listed in the box score of the first professional baseball game in history, when his Cleveland Forest Citys took on the Fort Wayne Kekiongas in Fort Wayne on May 4, 1871. Kimball was involved in the first double play in professional league history when he hit a pop up to infielder Tom Carey. Teammate Deacon White couldn't get back to the base in time and was out when Carey touched the base.

He was the original slap hitter, posting a .008 ISO in 1871. He only had one extra-base hit, a double.