:Mike Kilkenny

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Mike Kilkenny

|image=Mike Kilkenny.jpg

|position=Pitcher

|birth_date={{birth date|1945|4|11}}

|birth_place=Bradford, Ontario, Canada

|death_date={{death date and age|mf=yes|2018|6|28|1945|4|11}}

|death_place=London, Ontario, Canada

|bats=Right

|throws=Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 11

|debutyear=1969

|debutteam=Detroit Tigers

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=May 6

|finalyear=1973

|finalteam=Cleveland Indians

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=23–18

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=4.43

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=301

|teams=

Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|1969}}–{{mlby|1972}})
Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|1972}})
San Diego Padres ({{mlby|1972}})
Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|1972}}–{{mlby|1973}})

}}

Michael David Kilkenny (April 11, 1945 – June 28, 2018){{cite web |title=Michael Kilkenny - Obituaries - London, ON - Your Life Moments |url=http://yourlifemoments.ca/sitepages/obituary.asp?oId=1083109 |website=yourlifemoments.ca |publisher=London Free Press |access-date=30 June 2018 |language=en}} was a Canadian professional baseball pitcher who appeared in 139 games for four Major League Baseball teams between {{by|1969}} and {{by|1973}}.

Born in Bradford, Ontario, the {{convert|6|ft|3|in|abbr=on}}, {{convert|175|lb|abbr=on}} (12.5 stone) left-hander was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent before the 1964 season. He played for the Tigers (1969–1972), Oakland Athletics (1972), San Diego Padres (1972), and Cleveland Indians (1972–1973). Kilkenny is perhaps best known for giving up Frank Robinson's 499th home run on September 13, 1971,{{cite web |title=Frank Robinson joins the 500 home run club |url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/frank-robinson-hits-500th-home-run |website=Baseball Hall of Fame |access-date=December 2, 2020 |language=en}} and also for being one of the few players in MLB history to play for four teams in the same season.

The majority of his 139 appearances were as a relief pitcher; he also started 54 games. During his career, Kilkenny gave up 224 walks in just 410 innings, for a BB/9IP of 4.92, much higher than the American League average at that time. With 301 strikeouts, his K/9IP was 6.61, which was higher than the American League average. He finished his career with a total of 23 wins, 18 losses, 4 saves, 32 games finished, and an ERA of 4.43.

On August 12, 1969, Kilkenny pitched a three-hit shutout against the California Angels for his first major league victory. Earlier the same day, Kilkenny's wife, Carol, gave birth to the couple's first child, Rory Erin Kilkenny.{{cite news|title=Kilkenny Is Tough Pitcher in a Paradise for Swingers|author=Watson Spoelstra|newspaper=The Sporting News|date=October 11, 1969|page=17}}

In 1969, Kilkenny was named Tigers Rookie of the Year.{{cite book |title=2015 Detroit Tigers Media Guide. pg. 371}}

Kilkenny was traded with cash from the Tigers to the Athletics for Reggie Sanders on May 9, 1972.[http://www.mlb.com/det/downloads/mediaguides/mediaguide_74.pdf Detroit Tigers 1974 Press-TV-Radio Guide (scroll down to page 47).] Retrieved June 6, 2020

After his professional career ended, Kilkenny played for the London Majors of the Canadian Intercounty Baseball League where he helped the Majors win the Intercounty title in 1975. He was voted MVP during the regular season, winning the John Bell Memorial trophy with a 9–0 record and 129 strikeouts.