Dugout Legends: “THE TABASCO KID” by Andrew Phillips
“THE TABASCO KID”
05/15/15
by Andrew Phillips
A long-gone, long-forgotten about fiery ballplayer by the name Norman Arthur “Kid” Elberfeld, known as “The Tabasco Kid” was one generation’s Lou Pinella before temper tantrums were televised and cheered by the fans and the media. Elberfield made his debut in 1898 for the Philadelphia Phillies, when the Phillies signed him over another young shortstop named Honus Wagner. He lasted just 14 games in Philadelphia while Wagner played 17 season for the team that was “stuck” with him and amassed 3,430 hits. Elberfeld’s temper was not something that one would read about in today’s news. He filled an umpire’s mouth with mud during one argument, and assaulted another umpire so badly that police had to be called in order to separate him, an offense he was suspended eight games for.
Known mostly for his toughness, he often challenged base runners to slide through him in order to get to second base. One man, Ty Cobb slid headfirst into second during his rookie year and was met with a Elberfeld’s knee in the back of his neck, consequently thrusting Cobb’s face into the dirt. Cobb started sliding spikes up after that. Elberfeld, despite his raucous temper, was a trailblazer in early baseball and even took a young Casey Stengel under his wing, and surprisingly told him to keep quiet in Brooklyn, which obviously did not happen, as Stengel became famous for his mouth and his wit.
Without names such as Kid Elberfeld, baseball’s illustrious history would be devoid of some of the stories that make the game so interesting to learn about. Also who hasn’t wanted to stuff mud in an umpire’s mouth these days?
Dugout Legends
05/15/15
by Andrew Phillips
A long-gone, long-forgotten about fiery ballplayer by the name Norman Arthur “Kid” Elberfeld, known as “The Tabasco Kid” was one generation’s Lou Pinella before temper tantrums were televised and cheered by the fans and the media. Elberfield made his debut in 1898 for the Philadelphia Phillies, when the Phillies signed him over another young shortstop named Honus Wagner. He lasted just 14 games in Philadelphia while Wagner played 17 season for the team that was “stuck” with him and amassed 3,430 hits. Elberfeld’s temper was not something that one would read about in today’s news. He filled an umpire’s mouth with mud during one argument, and assaulted another umpire so badly that police had to be called in order to separate him, an offense he was suspended eight games for.
Known mostly for his toughness, he often challenged base runners to slide through him in order to get to second base. One man, Ty Cobb slid headfirst into second during his rookie year and was met with a Elberfeld’s knee in the back of his neck, consequently thrusting Cobb’s face into the dirt. Cobb started sliding spikes up after that. Elberfeld, despite his raucous temper, was a trailblazer in early baseball and even took a young Casey Stengel under his wing, and surprisingly told him to keep quiet in Brooklyn, which obviously did not happen, as Stengel became famous for his mouth and his wit.
Without names such as Kid Elberfeld, baseball’s illustrious history would be devoid of some of the stories that make the game so interesting to learn about. Also who hasn’t wanted to stuff mud in an umpire’s mouth these days?
Dugout Legends
