Baseball Season Hits Home in Frederick

By Maxann Keller

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Summer screams “Baseball Season!” America’s past time, the sport halters tradition, camaraderie, and a passion for play. I was very fortunate to grow up in a family that taught us about the sport at an early age. Our eyes stayed glued to the broadcasts of the diligently groomed dirt diamonds in major cities around the nation come April all the way up through October. This love for the game was passed down from generation to generation in our household, most notably from my great grandfather- Charlie. Although bred to become a Yankee, Charlie Keller was a man of Frederick County. A hard hitter for the team from the Bronx, he will always stand known as a family man from Frederick.

Born and raised in Middletown, Maryland, Charlie Keller grew up a great enthusiast of agriculture and horses. His other love was baseball. His steady and unfailing work ethic propelled him through his collegiate years at The University of Maryland to graduate with a degree in Agricultural Economics. All the while, my great grandfather never gave up the game. After graduation in 1937, he went on to follow a professional career in baseball.

Charlie Keller (or Dad-Dad as we call him) started his career with two years as an outfielder for the Newark Bears. From there, he was sent to New York to play for the New York Yankees. For nearly 13 years, Charlie Keller played alongside the likes of Joe Dimaggio, Tommy Henrich, and Yogi Berra. He loved the sport and cherished the relationships he formed with the memorable men on the field. After many seasons in pinstripes, my great grandfather retired from the game and found his ultimate home back in Frederick where he pursued his other life-long dream: his very own horse farm.

Yankeeland Farms was the result of Dad-Dad’s hard work and love for the land he called home. The farm was a multi-barn operation that bred Standard bred horses and allowed for him to work with his hands. Family members recall the many hours he spent repairing fences and watching the foals eat in the paddocks with a grin on his face.
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It’s near impossible to walk into one of our family members’ homes and not see a photo of my great-grandfather. It’s in these photos that you can sense the great amount of passion in his efforts that made him such an incredible family man, business owner, husband, father, and friend.

Be sure to pick up the Summer issue of The Frederick County Guide to get more on the faces from Frederick in the world of Baseball and much more!