Hall of Fame
The record for most home runs in a career by a Saint is held by Kurt Miller, an inductee in the initial Hall of Fame back in 1991. Miller authored 38 during his career. One can only fathom what the record might be if his teammate, Jim Kelly (3B/OF), would have come to St. Francis right out of high school rather than after a two-year stint at Grand Rapids Junior College. For the record, Kelly tallied 34 dingers in his two seasons, including a school-best 22 in his first campaign wearing the Brown & Gold. Three of the most memorable dingers that year were the back-to-back four-baggers that he notched against Illinois and his 18th, which not only broke the single-season mark, but also came at Aquinas (MI), which was right around where he grew up. It also started a 17-run inning in that game for the Saints. That same year, he led the squad in doubles (21) and runs batted in (82) enroute to a .332 batting average. Those first two marks rank second and third, respectively, in the single-season history books. Getting back to the 22 homers, Kelly had to stave off some tough competition. On the club that year, besides Miller, was Tom Baumgartner, another CSF Hall of Famer (1994), who ranks second all-time behind Miller with 36. It's no wonder then why that particular team still holds the club mark for home runs in a season with 93. And, like Baumgartner, Kelly also homered in his final game as a Saint at the 1983 World Series when that team finished sixth. Kelly was an All-District and All-Conference selection in '82.
