Noted for his roundhouse, off-speed curve, Kellner was 20-12 as a rookie in 1949 despite walking 129 batters while fanning only 94. He led the AL with 20 losses the next year and tied for the 1951 loss lead (14) as the A’s plummeted into the second division. He never again won more than 12. Like longtime teammate and pal Bobby Shantz, Kellner worked hard at hitting and fielding to help his cause, batting .215 lifetime. He remained with the A’s (joined briefly in 1952-53 by brother Walt, a pitcher) until waived to the Reds in mid-1958. His 7-3 record, 2.30 ERA, and .282 average the rest of the way helped his former A’s manager Jimmy Dykes keep the Reds in distant contention. Kellner was swapped to the Cardinals after the season, and recurring shoulder trouble ended his career.
