About Gene Kimball
Lived 1850 – 1882 (aged 31). Gene Kimball was an American baseball player.
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.
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Important facts
People in Gene Kimball's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Gene Kimball's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Gene Kimball?
American baseball player (1850-1882)
When was Gene Kimball born?
Gene Kimball was born on 30 August 1850 in Rochester.
When did Gene Kimball die?
Gene Kimball died on 2 August 1882 in Rochester.
What was Gene Kimball's occupation?
Gene Kimball was a baseball player.
What nationality was Gene Kimball?
Gene Kimball was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Gene Kimball. https://biography.guide/gene-kimball/
MLA: "Gene Kimball." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gene-kimball/.
Chicago: "Gene Kimball." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gene-kimball/.
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