Jeff Keener isn't sure when he started playing baseball, but if he had to guess it was around nine or ten years old.
His father, John Keener, was the head baseball coach at Edwards County High School and was inducted in the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1979. And, as you might expect, John was influential in Jeff's life and playing career.
As Jeff got older he became more aware of his baseball talent. One realization stemmed from a simple father-son catch in the yard.
"I remember I used to play catch with my dad in the backyard a lot. He would catch me and I'd work on my pitching, curve balls and all. I threw a pitch to him sidearm one time and he kind of snagged it. It was hard for him to catch I remember and he said there isn't anybody who's going to catch that pitch. That stuck in my mind, I didn't really know what I did differently. When I threw that pitch people had trouble hitting it."
After a good season his junior year in high school, an injury his senior season made Jeff wonder if he'd play anywhere after that.
"After my senior year I had nowhere to go. There was nobody that was interested in me. There were junior colleges fifteen miles away and they weren't interested. So fortunately for me a guy named Rich Hacker, a guy that played at SIUC and played in the big leagues, had gotten the head coaching job at Southeastern Illinois College and had seen me pitch my junior year."
Shortly after Hacker had Jeff join the team at Southeastern Illinois College, and also advised him to continue throwing sidearm. Jeff saw improvement in his game thanks to a sinking fastball and vicious curve.
During Jeff's sophomore season at SIC he got a visit from then Kentucky head coach Keith Madison. Jeff and two others on the team ended up signing with Madison at Kentucky. In his first season at UK, Jeff went 7-4 as a starting pitcher in his junior season with an earned run average around three. Jeff says a change in role on the team the following season helped him become a better pitcher.
"My senior year coach Madison said we are just going to use you in relief this year. That kind of worked out, I had things all along that people helped me with. But that's where I started really doing well."
Jeff compiled a 13-1 record with a .51 ERA in his senior season which put him at All-American status and helped lead the UK team to a school record 39 wins. That summer, Jeff received news that would change his life.
"The Cardinals had called. Virgil Melvin - a guy from Herrin and had scouted in this area a long time - called. He said they wanted me to go over and throw for them at St. Louis before a baseball game."
The Cardinals liked what they saw that day from Keener and in the 1981 Major League Baseball draft, chose him in the seventh round with the sixth pick.
"Playing for the Cardinals was a highlight for me. I grew up being a Cardinal fan, when I was a kid growing up we'd go and watch one game a year. That was the team I listened to at night with Jack Buck and Harry Caray on the radio."
With a need for relief pitching in St. Louis and triple AAA affiliate Memphis, just one year after entering professional baseball, Kenner was called up to the majors. At 23 years old, he made his debut for the Cardinals on June 8th 1982 at Montreal's Olympic Stadium.
"I go to St. Louis, I fly from Little Rock, I go to the gate and I know nobody there. I had seen those guys play on TV I didn't see those guys in Spring Training. So Whitey Herzog I see him and I know who he is just from seeing him on TV. I hear him say I'm looking for my new pitcher so I go over and introduce myself. He's very nice and they all take care of me and we get on the airplane to go to Montreal and they gave me more money in meal money then I was making in two weeks after taxes with my double AA salary."
Keener's first MLB game didn't go without a little pre-game drama. Since he was in the midst of moving from minor to major leagues he didn't have a chance to collect his new gear. He showed up to the game with only a hat, uniform and stirrups. It took a little help from fellow pitcher Bob Forsch before Jeff was game ready. His first appearance in the majors was a very memorable one.
"I went into the game with the bases loaded and two out. I struck out Tim Wallach to end the inning and had a one two three next inning and had a good evening. Next night I went in and I think I gave up three straight hits, so it all equaled out."
That 1982 season the Cardinals would go on to win the division, the NL pennant and eventually the World Series over the Milwaukee Brewers. Jeff compiled a 1.61 ERA that season along with a 1-1 record in a relieving role. Jeff made just four appearances the next year in what would end up being his final MLB season.
Now Jeff spends his working days in education. He is currently the principal of Murphysboro middle school after receiving his Master's degree in education from SIUC. As the Cardinals have clinched a playoff berth for the fifth straight year, Keener is very grateful to have been a part of the history and tradition of the St. Louis Cardinal organization.
