Due to a bad back, Charlie retired from baseball in 1952 and
returned home to Frederick, where he followed his beloved
passion for farming. Yankeeland Farms was the result of his hard
work and love for the land he called home. The farm was a multibarn operation that bred Standardbred horses, and stayed in
operation for over fifty years. A family-run business, Yankeeland
produced a number of prominent racing stallions and a few
Breeders Crown champions.
Family members recall the many hours he spent repairing fences
and watching the foals eat in the paddocks. He raised his family
to love horses as well. Even generations down on the family tree,
you could find his great-granddaughter standing over the fence
and watching the new foals play in the springtime sunshine.
One of my favorite photos shows him sitting beside my dad and
grandfather, my older brother sitting in their lap. “I really love
this picture,” Chaz said while looking at the photo showing 4 of
the 5 generations of Keller men. A family built on the foundation
of hard work, humble beginnings, and hometown pride. These
DID YOU KNOW?
Hal Keller, Charlie’s younger brother, also
played a role in professional baseball. Hal
was a respected scout, finding players for
the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, and
Anaheim Angels after his stint as a player
for the Washington Senators.
Courtesy of Keller family archives
After a 25-game career as an active athlete
for the Washington Senators, Hal found
himself more interested in searching the
sidelines for great players to join the ranks.
photos show a level of passion for his work that made my great
grandfather such an incredible family man, business owner,
husband, father and friend.
Charlie Keller passed away in 1990, but the memories and love
for baseball live on.
Some called him The Boy Wonder of the 1939 World Series.
Others called him King Kong Keller, a nickname he never liked.
It derived from his strong stature and powerful at-bats that
landed numerous homeruns.
But people who knew Charlie Keller well around the Middletown
and Frederick areas would tip their hats and yell something like,
“Hey, Charlie! How are those horses treating ya’?”
For me, he will always be Dad-Dad, a man who treasured his
home, his family, and, of course, the game of baseball.
“ He was a very well
respected scout & took
baseball very seriously. ”
said Chaz Keller, Charlie’s grandson.
Hal is, perhaps, best known for introducing
the radar gun to the sport of baseball.
Born in July 1927 on a farm in the foothills
of Frederick, Maryland, Hal passed away
in 2012. Just before he died, Hal reportedly
told his doctors that he had a wonderful life
and fulfilled everything he wanted to do.