January 21, 1912 - The Washington Times, DC - Elberfeld Injuries
Spinal Injury May Affect Elberfeld for Life ---Star will Enter Big Tourney
ELBERFELD SAYS NO HOPE REMAINS
Physician in Chattanooga Warns Him That He May Never Be Able to Play Ball Again—Veteran Wants Release Outright From Nationals.
That he will be unable to play ball for at least one season and may be retired from the game forever, is the burden of a letter from Norman Elberfeld, the Nationals' peppery little veteran infielder who will not be with the team during the coming season. He says that his present physician gives him no hope for the future. On this account Elberfeld feels that the Washington club might well give him his unconditional release in order to allow him to obtain a berth managing some minor league team. No team will pay anything for him, he says, in his present physical condition.
"I played about two and one-half months with a sprained ankle and an Injured hip, for which I am still under a doctor's treatment," says Elberfeld's letter to the writer. "During all that time I played suffering pain from every move.
"I couldn't get to second base for a double play. My hip would give way under me, and no doubt you have noticed from the press box that I could not go down on either side.
Under Doctor's Care.
"At that time I went to Dr. Kirkpatrick, in Washington, for treatment end was under his care several weeks. He wanted me to lay off, saying the injury would never heal if I kept up work. Nevertheless I played ball and now I hear from many sources that McAleer thinks I laid down on him. He knows very well that I was physically unlit to play.
"While on one of the Western trips went to doctors in each city, hoping for relief, and even went to Dr. Ellis, of Alliance, Ohio, who has made some wonderful cures, even more wonderful than those of Bonesetter Reese. The trouble is this: In sliding to second base for a force play I somehow injured my spine and the lower vertebrae are displaced and pressing against the large sciatic nerve. Dr. Hudson, of Chattanooga, by whom I am now being treated, gives me no hope of ever being able to play again.
"I have had to turn down quite a few good offers, because I am not at liberty to accept them. No club will take me
as a player in the condition I am in. and all the managerial places are tilled, so it will be mighty hard for me to get a berth.
Feeding the Fire.
"I am not doing much but feeding the big fireplace with wood and watching it burn. Remember me in your paper to all the friends who thought of me at Christmas time."
Allowing for the stiffness usually present In a veteran, Kid Elberfeld started the 1911 season in good condition. •For a while at Atlanta he complained of having a "dead" arm, but not once did his legs bother him. Gradually his arm strengthened, and he entered the regular campaign in as good shape as the youngest player with the team.
In the middle of the season he sprained his ankle and then, coming close after, he suffered the injury to his hip. He wore an ankle brace and a tight bandage for the rest of the season, but hi hip gave him constant trouble. One day the writer asked him why he didn't go to Jimmy McAleer and ask to be benched. Rill Cunningham was eating his head off on the bench and eager for a chance to show his class at second.
Couldn't Ask Rest.
"I can't do that," replied Elberfeld. "He'd think I was laying down on him. If I was not so old it might be all right, but right now I'm hitting better than Bill and Jim needs me in the game every day.
He stayed in the line-up day after day and when Manager McAleer joined the team at Cleveland, following a scouting trip, he shifted the Kid to third when he put Cunningham back into the game. Thus the game little veteran was kept in the game when he should have been resting.
During the All-Star-Athletic series the writer had another talk with Elberfeld, who said: "Well, here's another season gone. I don't know how I played these last five or six weeks. There were times when it almost broke my back to get down for a low one on either side, but I stayed there all the time. You noticed how I dragged my leg, didn't you?"
And that's all the complaint he made.
ELBERFELD SAYS NO HOPE REMAINS
Physician in Chattanooga Warns Him That He May Never Be Able to Play Ball Again—Veteran Wants Release Outright From Nationals.
That he will be unable to play ball for at least one season and may be retired from the game forever, is the burden of a letter from Norman Elberfeld, the Nationals' peppery little veteran infielder who will not be with the team during the coming season. He says that his present physician gives him no hope for the future. On this account Elberfeld feels that the Washington club might well give him his unconditional release in order to allow him to obtain a berth managing some minor league team. No team will pay anything for him, he says, in his present physical condition.
"I played about two and one-half months with a sprained ankle and an Injured hip, for which I am still under a doctor's treatment," says Elberfeld's letter to the writer. "During all that time I played suffering pain from every move.
"I couldn't get to second base for a double play. My hip would give way under me, and no doubt you have noticed from the press box that I could not go down on either side.
Under Doctor's Care.
"At that time I went to Dr. Kirkpatrick, in Washington, for treatment end was under his care several weeks. He wanted me to lay off, saying the injury would never heal if I kept up work. Nevertheless I played ball and now I hear from many sources that McAleer thinks I laid down on him. He knows very well that I was physically unlit to play.
"While on one of the Western trips went to doctors in each city, hoping for relief, and even went to Dr. Ellis, of Alliance, Ohio, who has made some wonderful cures, even more wonderful than those of Bonesetter Reese. The trouble is this: In sliding to second base for a force play I somehow injured my spine and the lower vertebrae are displaced and pressing against the large sciatic nerve. Dr. Hudson, of Chattanooga, by whom I am now being treated, gives me no hope of ever being able to play again.
"I have had to turn down quite a few good offers, because I am not at liberty to accept them. No club will take me
as a player in the condition I am in. and all the managerial places are tilled, so it will be mighty hard for me to get a berth.
Feeding the Fire.
"I am not doing much but feeding the big fireplace with wood and watching it burn. Remember me in your paper to all the friends who thought of me at Christmas time."
Allowing for the stiffness usually present In a veteran, Kid Elberfeld started the 1911 season in good condition. •For a while at Atlanta he complained of having a "dead" arm, but not once did his legs bother him. Gradually his arm strengthened, and he entered the regular campaign in as good shape as the youngest player with the team.
In the middle of the season he sprained his ankle and then, coming close after, he suffered the injury to his hip. He wore an ankle brace and a tight bandage for the rest of the season, but hi hip gave him constant trouble. One day the writer asked him why he didn't go to Jimmy McAleer and ask to be benched. Rill Cunningham was eating his head off on the bench and eager for a chance to show his class at second.
Couldn't Ask Rest.
"I can't do that," replied Elberfeld. "He'd think I was laying down on him. If I was not so old it might be all right, but right now I'm hitting better than Bill and Jim needs me in the game every day.
He stayed in the line-up day after day and when Manager McAleer joined the team at Cleveland, following a scouting trip, he shifted the Kid to third when he put Cunningham back into the game. Thus the game little veteran was kept in the game when he should have been resting.
During the All-Star-Athletic series the writer had another talk with Elberfeld, who said: "Well, here's another season gone. I don't know how I played these last five or six weeks. There were times when it almost broke my back to get down for a low one on either side, but I stayed there all the time. You noticed how I dragged my leg, didn't you?"
And that's all the complaint he made.
