1895 - First day in Clarksville, KY
It is sixteen years since Elberfeld broke into the game as a professional. He went from his home to Clarksville, Ky., and, according to his own story, he was a sorry looking spectacle when he reported to the manager. There had been a wreck the night before and instead of making the trip in a few hours the Kid was on the road all night. He was sleepy, dirty and hungry, as a youth of 17 can become over- night. He wore knee trousers and the manager looked at him askance when he walked up and said: "Are you the manager? Well, I'mNorman Elberfeld, your new player." A few minutes later the '''Kid''' heard the manager confide to one of the old players that "that half pint of cider will never do." However, he gave the '''Kid''' a chance that very day and he won the game for Clarksville. The same evening as they were walking along the main street, the manager turned to the Kid and after looking him him over from head to foot, said: I. "I guess you are a ball player all right, Kid, but if you stay with this team you will have to wear long trousers." "I'm willing, boss," replied Elberfeld. "You buy them for me. You see, I'm dead broke and couldn't buy a shoe lace."
Elberfeld has been playing professional baseball since 1895. He was a boy in knickerbockers when he got his first professional engagement with the Clarksville (Tenn.) club. Billy Earl was the manager of the Clarksville club in 1895. He had on his team a brother of Elberfeld, who quit the game to enter into other business. Earl was left short handed, and he sent to George Grant, who was then connected with the Southern league, asking him for another player. Grant
knew of Kid Elberfeld and his ability and he sent him to Clarksville. Manager Earl looked at the youngster in astonishment. The new arrival was a raw country boy, not ever having been away from the wilds of Walden's Ridge.
Earl wired back to Grant: "I wanted a man, not a kid."
He tried the youngster, however, and his eyes were immediately opened to the fact that he had a prize package in the youthful mountaineer.
knew of Kid Elberfeld and his ability and he sent him to Clarksville. Manager Earl looked at the youngster in astonishment. The new arrival was a raw country boy, not ever having been away from the wilds of Walden's Ridge.
Earl wired back to Grant: "I wanted a man, not a kid."
He tried the youngster, however, and his eyes were immediately opened to the fact that he had a prize package in the youthful mountaineer.
For the full article see: July 5, 1908 - The Courier, Harrisburg, PA - New Manager aticle
NOTE: In 1895, Kid Elberfeld was 20 years old, not 17. Kid Elberfeld was living in the city of Cincinnati, OH, not in Tennessee, and had played on city teams for two years. Walden's Ridge is also known as Signal Mountain, TN, where Kid Elberfeld lived after he retired. Clarksville is on the border of KY and TN and in articles the state will vary.
