March 25, 1934 - The Brooklyn Daily Eagle NY - Long Story
There was a face familiar to old Yankee fans in the stands at Orlando the other day. Remember Kid Elberfeld, "The Tabasco Kid," or aren't you that old? Elberfeld short-stopped for the ancient Highlanders from about 1904 to 1909, if I recall the years rightly. A scrappier and more colorful ball player never donned a New York uniform—Giant or Yankee-and he was a first rate ball player, too.
The Tobasco Kid had a short fling as manager of the Yanks in 1908. Clark Griffin, then a Yank pilot, quit the team in a disastrous mid-season and the reins were handed to Elberfeld. The chaotic outfit slid to the cellar, Elberfeld along with them. George Stallings took over the helm the following year, which marked the last appearance of the fiery Elberfeld in a Yankee uniform.
Elberfeld was a tough hombre, a perpetual headache to umpires and absolutely independent of anybody. That included newspapermen, too. He claimed the photographers in particular, "bothered" him, and it was not a rare sight to see him hurl a baseball at their cameras. Mr. Elberfeld got plenty of publicity, even though he didn't "hand shake" with the picture boys. A strange and interesting character. Elberfeld.
The Tabasco Kid, for one thing, didn't believe there was ever such a thing as an "accidental" spiking, When a player spiked another fellow, why he meant it. So thought Elberfeld. I'll give you an example.
The old Yankees and the Athletics were particularly hostile toward each other. Almost every meeting betwen the teams resulted in personal clashes of one sort or another. One day John Ganzel (Long John), who covered first base for the Yanks, collided with an "A" runner. Ganzel believed it was an accidental affair and took the matter in a generous spirit.
Off the Skull
Ganzel's wound was patched up with adhesive tape, and after a few minutes the game continued with the Athletic runner on first base. The next batter grounded to Elberfeld at short. Then came something amazing. The Kid ran
over to second, forcing the runner. However, Elberfeld dumbfounded every one by holding the ball instead of trying for a double play. He waited for the runner and as the gentleman slid into the bag Elberfeld BOUNCED THE BALL OFF HIS SKULL SO HARD IT ROLLED OFF INTO RIGHT FIELD.
Casey Stengel, by the way, was developed by this same Kid Elberfeld, and the Dodger pilot will tell you today that he thinks Elberfeld is the greatest figure baseball ever had, including John McGraw. Stengel and the Tabasco Kid played together in Montgomery, Ala.. after the Kid had drifted out of the big time. Elberfeld was through as a star performer and Stengel was just corning up.
Perhaps Stengel inherited some of his own colorful qualities through association with the gusty Elberfeld. The Kid called Stengel "a bum little busher." declaring in the same breath "I'll send you up to t he big leagues." Elberfeld made good his boast. He sent Stengel up to the big top. But not without a picturesque hit of Iast-minute tutoring.
First he took Elberfeld to a store and helped purchase a big traveling bag (all Casey had then was a paper knapsack for his uniform). The Kid threw that in the basket, observing: "Now you're a big leaguer. But before you go I want to show you how to work the hit and run this afternoon. "
The Hit-and-Run
Stengel got to second base in that day's game and he carried with him these instructions: "On the second ball pitched you run like hell for third," Casey had put on a long and scared face when he heard that.
"What if it's a pitchout and I'm trapped twenty feet off the bag?" he asked nervously.
"Do as I say." the Kid roared. Casey obeyed, and it was a pitchout as he suspected, Elberfeld hadn't a chance to touch it with his bat. So HE REACHED UP AND CAUGHT IT AS IT PASSED."
That started a fight, which was exactly what. Elberfeld had planned. The Kid's amazing argument was that the ball was about to hlt him and that, he naturally caught it in SELF-DEFENSE! Elberfeld also declared he would poke any one on the nose who thought differently. When the squabble subsided Casey was perched on second. That was also what Elberfeld had planned.
Elberfeld's motto in baseball was "Hit or get hit," On in the early part of a minor league season, before he had struck his batting stride, Elberfeld gave a vivid practical demonstration of his theory, He leaned far over the plate and allowed the ball to hit him on the shoulder. Without waiting for the impire's verdict Elberfeld skipped out to the pitcher's box, bat in hand. Then he actually socked the pitcher on tre skull with his mace, sprawling that unfortunate gentleman completely "out." The umpire was so impressed with the Kid's indignant attitude that he permitted him to take his base. Fancy that:
On another occasion. this time in the minors. some ladies in the stands complained about "the terrible profanity of that little bald headed player." They meant Elberfeld. and not without reason. It seems that the Mobile chief of police listened to the complaint and thought of the terrible black mark on the fair name of Mobile. So the next day a copper was stationed on the third and first base coaching line waiting for the Kid to "start something." They threatened to pinch him if he uttered one false note,
It so happened that Elberfeld's pitcher walked a man—always a fault that stirred Elberfeld immoderately. In fact, he was very angry at his hurler. Elberfeld eyed the copped malevolently. Then he walked to the mound and cupped his hand to the pitcher's ear. What he said you can imagine but not print. Every one in the stands could guess. though—and the laugh was on the cops!
Operates a School
The Kid, I understand, is a settled and much milder proposition now. He has reared a family of eight children on a ranch near Chattanooga and is well fixed. Also he operates a baseball school now, and this, according to Stengel, is the greatest two-way pay-off in baseball. Elberfeld charges the kids to teach 'em, and then when they develop he sells them. Nobody but the Tabasco Kid himself developed Travis Jackson. the sterling Giant short stop. The Kid got a juicy hunk of cash when Jax. whom he unearthed around Little Rock, Ark., went to McGraw. Jackson used to call at Elberfeld's house every day in Little Rock. The Kid was a mighty capable short stopper in his day and together they'd go to the ball park. There the Kid would teach his charge for hours at a clip,
His baseball school. where the fee is $10. is not as well known as Ray Doan 's. Stengel though, thinks Elberfeld has no superior as an instructor of baseball. The Kid you, may recall, once coached for the Dodgers under Uncle Wilbert. He made good there, too.
The Tobasco Kid had a short fling as manager of the Yanks in 1908. Clark Griffin, then a Yank pilot, quit the team in a disastrous mid-season and the reins were handed to Elberfeld. The chaotic outfit slid to the cellar, Elberfeld along with them. George Stallings took over the helm the following year, which marked the last appearance of the fiery Elberfeld in a Yankee uniform.
Elberfeld was a tough hombre, a perpetual headache to umpires and absolutely independent of anybody. That included newspapermen, too. He claimed the photographers in particular, "bothered" him, and it was not a rare sight to see him hurl a baseball at their cameras. Mr. Elberfeld got plenty of publicity, even though he didn't "hand shake" with the picture boys. A strange and interesting character. Elberfeld.
The Tabasco Kid, for one thing, didn't believe there was ever such a thing as an "accidental" spiking, When a player spiked another fellow, why he meant it. So thought Elberfeld. I'll give you an example.
The old Yankees and the Athletics were particularly hostile toward each other. Almost every meeting betwen the teams resulted in personal clashes of one sort or another. One day John Ganzel (Long John), who covered first base for the Yanks, collided with an "A" runner. Ganzel believed it was an accidental affair and took the matter in a generous spirit.
Off the Skull
Ganzel's wound was patched up with adhesive tape, and after a few minutes the game continued with the Athletic runner on first base. The next batter grounded to Elberfeld at short. Then came something amazing. The Kid ran
over to second, forcing the runner. However, Elberfeld dumbfounded every one by holding the ball instead of trying for a double play. He waited for the runner and as the gentleman slid into the bag Elberfeld BOUNCED THE BALL OFF HIS SKULL SO HARD IT ROLLED OFF INTO RIGHT FIELD.
Casey Stengel, by the way, was developed by this same Kid Elberfeld, and the Dodger pilot will tell you today that he thinks Elberfeld is the greatest figure baseball ever had, including John McGraw. Stengel and the Tabasco Kid played together in Montgomery, Ala.. after the Kid had drifted out of the big time. Elberfeld was through as a star performer and Stengel was just corning up.
Perhaps Stengel inherited some of his own colorful qualities through association with the gusty Elberfeld. The Kid called Stengel "a bum little busher." declaring in the same breath "I'll send you up to t he big leagues." Elberfeld made good his boast. He sent Stengel up to the big top. But not without a picturesque hit of Iast-minute tutoring.
First he took Elberfeld to a store and helped purchase a big traveling bag (all Casey had then was a paper knapsack for his uniform). The Kid threw that in the basket, observing: "Now you're a big leaguer. But before you go I want to show you how to work the hit and run this afternoon. "
The Hit-and-Run
Stengel got to second base in that day's game and he carried with him these instructions: "On the second ball pitched you run like hell for third," Casey had put on a long and scared face when he heard that.
"What if it's a pitchout and I'm trapped twenty feet off the bag?" he asked nervously.
"Do as I say." the Kid roared. Casey obeyed, and it was a pitchout as he suspected, Elberfeld hadn't a chance to touch it with his bat. So HE REACHED UP AND CAUGHT IT AS IT PASSED."
That started a fight, which was exactly what. Elberfeld had planned. The Kid's amazing argument was that the ball was about to hlt him and that, he naturally caught it in SELF-DEFENSE! Elberfeld also declared he would poke any one on the nose who thought differently. When the squabble subsided Casey was perched on second. That was also what Elberfeld had planned.
Elberfeld's motto in baseball was "Hit or get hit," On in the early part of a minor league season, before he had struck his batting stride, Elberfeld gave a vivid practical demonstration of his theory, He leaned far over the plate and allowed the ball to hit him on the shoulder. Without waiting for the impire's verdict Elberfeld skipped out to the pitcher's box, bat in hand. Then he actually socked the pitcher on tre skull with his mace, sprawling that unfortunate gentleman completely "out." The umpire was so impressed with the Kid's indignant attitude that he permitted him to take his base. Fancy that:
On another occasion. this time in the minors. some ladies in the stands complained about "the terrible profanity of that little bald headed player." They meant Elberfeld. and not without reason. It seems that the Mobile chief of police listened to the complaint and thought of the terrible black mark on the fair name of Mobile. So the next day a copper was stationed on the third and first base coaching line waiting for the Kid to "start something." They threatened to pinch him if he uttered one false note,
It so happened that Elberfeld's pitcher walked a man—always a fault that stirred Elberfeld immoderately. In fact, he was very angry at his hurler. Elberfeld eyed the copped malevolently. Then he walked to the mound and cupped his hand to the pitcher's ear. What he said you can imagine but not print. Every one in the stands could guess. though—and the laugh was on the cops!
Operates a School
The Kid, I understand, is a settled and much milder proposition now. He has reared a family of eight children on a ranch near Chattanooga and is well fixed. Also he operates a baseball school now, and this, according to Stengel, is the greatest two-way pay-off in baseball. Elberfeld charges the kids to teach 'em, and then when they develop he sells them. Nobody but the Tabasco Kid himself developed Travis Jackson. the sterling Giant short stop. The Kid got a juicy hunk of cash when Jax. whom he unearthed around Little Rock, Ark., went to McGraw. Jackson used to call at Elberfeld's house every day in Little Rock. The Kid was a mighty capable short stopper in his day and together they'd go to the ball park. There the Kid would teach his charge for hours at a clip,
His baseball school. where the fee is $10. is not as well known as Ray Doan 's. Stengel though, thinks Elberfeld has no superior as an instructor of baseball. The Kid you, may recall, once coached for the Dodgers under Uncle Wilbert. He made good there, too.