Bill Kennedy is born in Carnesville, Georgia.

“Lefty” debuted in 1948 with the Indians after they selected him in the Rule 5 draft from the Boston Red Sox. He was delayed in starting his baseball career like so many of his era because he spent three years in the Army during World War II.

He appeared in six games for the club, earning a 1-0 record with an 11.12 ERA, but was traded to the St. Louis Browns with cash for pitcher Sam Zoldak. He would finish the season 8-8 with a 5.21 ERA and would spend three more years with the Browns before he was purchased by the Chicago White Sox. He would be traded a year later back to the Red Sox and would also spend a pair of seasons in Cincinnati with the Redlegs.

Also on this date in Tribe history:

1960 – Jerry Willard, one of four players to be acquired by the Indians in 1982 in exchange for first baseman Von Hayes, is born in Oxnard, California. He spent his best two MLB seasons in an Indians uniform in 1984 and 1985.