Bill Kemmer

William Edward Kemmer (November 15, 1873 – June 8, 1945), nicknamed "Big Bill", was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the Louisville Colonels in 1895 and also had a 17-year minor league career. Kenner stood at and weighed 195 lbs.

Career Kemmer was born in Turbot Township, Pennsylvania. Two years later, he was with Shreveport before being acquired by the Louisville Colonels to play third base. Kemmer, however, did not "fill the bill" and was eventually replaced with future Hall of Famer Jimmy Collins. In Kemmer's 11 Major League games in 1895, he went 7 for 38 (.184) at the plate. That mark was topped four years later, but it remains the second-highest total in Texas League history and the third-highest in all the minors leagues. Kemmer continued his hot-hitting in 1899, batting .331 with a league-leading 28 doubles. His 108 hits ranked second behind Lefty Houtz. That was the last season in which he would bat over .300.

Kemmer played in a different minor league every year from 1906 to 1910. After batting .200 in 1910, he retired from professional baseball.

Bill Kemmer died in 1945 in Washington, D.C.