Keltner earned recognition as Cleveland’s all-time greatest third baseman for his 11 seasons there. A timely hitter, the seven-time All-Star was a fabulous fielder known for going to his right. He ended Joe DiMaggio‘s record hit streak at 56 on July 17, 1941 before a then-record night crowd (67,468) in Cleveland. Keltner made two stops of DiMaggio line drives, one a brilliant backhanded stab. On October 4, 1948, in the first playoff in AL history, Keltner’s single, double, and three-run homer helped the Indians defeat the Red Sox at Fenway Park. That season, Keltner reached career highs of 31 HR (third in the AL) and 119 RBI (sixth). When he left Cleveland, he was among the club’s all-time leaders in games played, doubles, HR, RBI, and hits.
