They say the best thing a broadcaster can do after a big play is shut up and let the people listen to the crowd. To an extent, that’s what we want to do here, letting all of you do what we’ve done these last 15 hours and bask in the glory of Joe Kelly’s third career World Series. Two orders of business, though, while we’re here:
1. Joe Kelly Has Won More World Series Than 16 Different MLB Franchises
The 16, categorized by history…
Original AL/NL Teams (franchises who existed in 1903, when the World Series began):
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Cleveland Guardians
Teams from the 60’s:
- Anaheim Angels
- Texas Rangers (formerly Washington Senators)
- Houston Astros
- New York Mets
- Kansas City Royals
- Milwaukee Brewers (formerly Seattle Pilots)
- Washington Nationals (formerly Montreal Expos)
- San Diego Padres
Teams from the 70’s:
- Seattle Mariners
- Toronto Blue Jays
Teams from the 90’s:
- Miami Marlins
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Colorado Rockies
Joe Kelly’s three World Series titles place him ahead of more than half of Major League Baseball’s franchises on the all-time list. Two of the 16 he’s bested are original MLB teams. Eight have been around for more than 50 years. Joe Kelly has more World Series rings than the nation of Canada. Joe Kelly has more World Series rings than the rest of Southern California. Joe Kelly has more World Series rings than the Houston Astros. Future Hall of Famers Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Chris Sale have each never won a World Series without Joe Kelly on their team.
Say what you will about Joe Kelly’s performance this year, gutting through injuries the whole calendar long, but there are reasons the Dodgers paid so much money to keep him away from retirement. A lot of those reasons live on the mound, but championships are won in the clubhouse too.
2. Was This Joe Kelly’s Final Moment as an Active MLB Player?
The update at the end of the regular season was that after a breakthrough involving the Dodgers’ training staff, our hero was no longer contemplating retirement. Then, he got hurt again and missed the entire postseason. Where does that leave us? We don’t know. We really don’t know. Push notifications are on, but that’s about all we can offer. Hopefully we haven’t seen the last of our king, but if we have…
Joe Kelly stole America’s heart in 2018, when he beat up Tyler Austin and humiliated the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. This was the inflection point at which Joe Kelly turned from funny MLB player to cult hero. Everything before April 11th, 2018 was prelude.
So, while Joe Kelly’s retirement would be terrifically sad, we must admit this: If last night was the finale, then what a way to go. Maybe he didn’t beat the Yankees up physically. But using mind control to make Aaron Judge drop a fly ball? Manipulating Gerrit Cole into failing to cover first base? Convincing Austin Wells to shove his glove into the bat path of a guy who couldn’t swing? One hell of a final act.
We’ll keep you updated as best we can. But if this year was our last ride together as a Joe Kelly-watching community, thank you for the privilege of being your Joe Kelly blogger. Until we hear more, be safe out there, and as always: Go Joe.
