KID ELBERFELD
  • Home
  • Elberfeld Family History
    • Elberfelds in Germany
    • Elberfelds Come to America
    • Other Elberfelds in Germany and America
    • Norman Arthur Elberfeld's Family
    • Relatives in Print
  • Baseball Card Check List
    • Card Naming System
    • Kid Elberfeld Baseball Card Check Lists
    • Cigarette Cards 1903 - 1910 >
      • 1903-04 Breisch-Williams E107
      • 1902 Sporting Life W600 Sporting Life Cabinets
      • 1905 Carl Horner Cabinets Kid Elberfeld #7
      • 1906 WG2 Fan Craze Baseball Cards
      • 1908 PC760 Rose Company Postcards
      • 1909-11 Colgan's Chips E254 Colgan Gum Co Chips
      • 1909-11 T206 American Tobacco Company White Borders >
        • 1909 - 1911 T206 American Tobacco Co. White Borders Kid Elberfeld Fielding Card #:159
        • 1909-11 T206 American Tobacco Co. White Borders Portrait - New York Card #:160
        • 1909 - 1911 T206 American Tobacco Co. White Borders Portrait - Washington Card #:161
      • 1909 T204 Ramly
      • 1909 German Stamp of Kid Elberfeld
      • 1910 Darby Chocolates E271
      • 1910-13 Red Cross T215
      • 1910 - 12 Kid Elberfeld P2 Sweet Caporal Pin
    • Cigarette Cards 1911 - 1920 >
      • 1911 M116 Sporting Life
      • 1911 T3 American Tobacco Company Turkey Red Cabinets
      • 1911 T201 Mecca Double Folders Baseball Cards
      • 1911 T205 Gold Border
      • 1911 Pinkerton T5
      • 1911 S74 Silks
      • 1912 T202 Hassan Triple Folders
      • 1912 Colgan's Chips Red Border
      • 1912 T215 Pirate Cigarettes
      • 1912-13 T215 Red Cross Tobacco (Type 2) Fielding
      • 1914 T213 Coupon Cigarettes
      • 1914 Piedmont Stamps T330-2
      • 1915 T214 Victory Cigarettes
    • Reprints 1972 - 2000 >
      • 1972 Classic Card Reprint
      • 1980 Nostalgic Enterprises 1903 NY Highlanders Reprint Baseball Card
      • 1980s 1911 T205 American Tobacco Co. Gold Borders Reprint
      • 1983 Renata Galasso and Capital Reprints >
        • 1982 Renata Galasso 1910-1911 T3 Turkey Red Baseball Card
        • 1983 Capital 1909 - 1911 T206 Portrait - Washington
        • 1983 Capital 1909 - 1911 T206 American Tobacco Co. Portrait - New York
        • 1983 Capital 1909 - 1911 T206 American Tobacco Co. Washington Fielding
      • 1987 Baseball Hall of Shame Baseball Card
      • 1988 CCC T-206 Reprint Baseball Card
      • 1989 Chattanooga Lookouts
      • 1990 Target Dodgers
      • 1990 Reprint 1904 Fan Craze AL WG2 Baseball Card Game - Kid Elberfeld - New York Portrait
      • 1991 Dover Mecca 1911 Double-Folder
      • 1992 Conlon Recreated Baseball Card - Kid Elberfeld - Washington Fielding
      • 1993 Ramly Reprint Baseball Card
    • Reprints 2001 - >
      • 2005 - 2010 Topps Reprints >
        • 2005 Topps 1910 T3 Turkey Red
        • 2010 Topps T206 Full Size
        • 2010 Topps Mini T-206 Reprint Baseball Cards
        • 2010 Topps Mini Special Reprints
        • 2010 Topps 206 Cut Signature Book BC3 Kid Elberfeld
      • 2010 -- now Helmar Recreations >
        • 2010 Helmar Brooklyn Robins
        • 2012 Helmar Washington Portrait
        • 2013 Helmar Washington Fielding
        • 2012 Helmar 1908 New York Highlanders Team Picture
        • 2012 Helmar 1908 Washington Senators Team Picture
        • 2018 Helmar Oasis, #193 Kid Elberfeld
        • 2019 L1-Helmar, #18 Kid Elberfeld Leather
        • 2021 Helmar Cabinet
        • 2021 Helmar Water Color
      • 2011 ZeeNut Art Series Reprint Baseball Cards
      • 2014 Ars Longa Promotional Card for Pilgrims Series
      • 2014 Sporting Life “Exhibit” Series
      • 2015 Spanish Card
      • 2015 Old Liberty
      • 2016 Banty Red
      • 2025 Old Frog 1901 Kid Elberfeld
  • Artifacts
    • Kid Elberfeld's Signature
    • Baseball Bats
    • 1908 Game TIcket
  • Biographies and Statistics
    • Statistics Resources
    • 1930 - Baseball Histiory Daily
    • April 13 - Pinstripe Birthdays
    • Baseball Wiki - Kid Elberfeld Bio
    • Biographical Dictionary
    • Brooklyn Dodger Memories - Elberfeld Bio
    • Bronx Bummers
    • The Chattanooga Lookouts
    • The Days of Wee Willie, Old Cy and Baseball War
    • Deadball Stars
    • EIGHT MEN OUT: HALL OF FAME PLAYERS WE’VE FORGOTTEN - July 26, 2014 · by Zack Murphy ·
    • Hall of Fame Debate - Introducing… Kid Elberfeld
    • Helmar Bio - Swinging and Spitting
    • Jackie and the Juniors vs. Margaret and the Bloomers by Barbara Gregorich
    • Kid Elberfeld - Baseball Library
    • Kid Elberfeld’s Trip From Washington To Montgomery–Through Milwaukee - August 4, 2011 by Dennis Pajot
    • The Local Boys: Hometown Players for the Cincinnati Reds
    • Norman Arthur Elberfeld (The Tabasco Kid) - baseball-reference.com
    • The New Biographical History of Baseball: The Classic—Completely Revised by Donald Dewey, Nicholas Acocella and Jerome Holtzman (Jan 1, 2002)
    • New York Yankee Card
    • This Date in Washington Senators History by Art Audley
    • This Day in Baseball
    • The Rank and File of 19th Century Major League Baseball: Biographies of 1,084 Players, Owners, Managers and Umpires...Mar 20, 2012 by David Nemec
    • Pinstripe Alley Top 100 Yankees: #81 Kid Elberfeld
    • Remembering Former Yankees INF Kid "The Tabasco Kid" Elberfeld
    • Remembering the Tobasco Kid by Mississippi Matt Smith
    • The Early Southern Association -- 1901 -1926
    • The National Game by Alfred Henry Spink
    • May 17, 1933 - St. Petersburg Independent
    • Wahoo Sam Summary
    • What made Kid Elberfeld such a tough guy and his impact on two Hall of Famers June 10, 2014 by John Pielli
    • Yankees all-time best shortstops
    • The Yankee Encyclopedia
    • Definitions of Baseball Terms
    • Manager Record
    • Transactions
    • Ejections
  • Articles
    • 1908 Teddy Roosevelt Poem
    • Arkansas Travelers Baseball Team History
    • Autumn Glory: Baseballs First World Series Paperback – January 1, 2003 by Louis Masur
    • Ballads of Baseball By George Moriarty - 1922
    • Baseball's Best 1000
    • Baseball Hall of Shame 3 Paperback – December 1, 1988 by Bruce Nash
    • Baseball in Springfield
    • Billy Evans Says - Kid Elberfeld's Baseball Signals
    • Billy Evans Says: Getting Hit by Pitches
    • Baseball Poem by Alex Klenman
    • Batting Stance Guy A Love Letter to Baseball
    • Characters of the Diamonf
    • Chattanooga Lookouts History
    • Chattanooga Trivia - John Shearer - Mountain Press, Inc. 2000
    • Crazy '08
    • The Deacon and the Schoolmaster
    • Detroit Aces: The First 75 Years (MI) (Images of Baseball) by Mark Rucker (May 1, 2006)
    • Detroit Sluggers: The First 75 Years (MI) (Images of Baseball) Paperback – June 5, 2006
    • Detroit Tigers All Decade Team: 1901-1909
    • Dugout Legends: “THE TABASCO KID"
    • Field of Screams: The Dark Underside of America's National Pastime - Richard Scheinin - W. W. Norton & Company, 1994
    • Forfeits and Successfully Protested Games
    • The Glory of Their Times
    • The Great Wigwag Scheme of 1909 By Mike Lynch
    • Greatness in Waiting
    • Harwinton's (CT) History - The New York Yankees Visit the Fair
    • Legendary Locals of Chattanooga - William F. Hull
    • New York Yankees History - sportsecyclopedia.com
    • Occasional Glory: The History of the Philadelphia Phillies
    • Peanuts & Crackerjack: A Treasury Of Baseball Legends And Lore by David Cataneo
    • Pro baseball has long, rich history in Richmond - Bill Lohmann - Updated Jan 29, 2013
    • Ranking the Tigers: All-time shortstops - Posted on February 22, 2011
    • Signal Mountain - Images of America
    • Standing the Gaff: The Life and Hard Times of a Minor League Umpire By Harry Johnson
    • The Early Southern Association - 1901 - 1926
    • Uncle Mike's Musings: A Yankees Blog and More
    • Who Will Be the Next Yankee Captain?
    • The Worst Call Ever!
    • The Yankees Baseball Reader: A Collection of Writings on the Game's Greatest Dynasty - Adam Brunner, Josh Leventhal - MVP Books, Apr 15, 2011 - Sports & Recreation - 352 pages
    • Yankees Triviology: Fascinating Facts from the Bleacher Seats - Paperback – October 1, 2011 by Neil Shalin
  • Players Kid Helped
    • Lucius Benjamin "Luke" Appling
    • James Phillip 'Jimmy' Austin
    • Brennan
    • Hal Chase
    • Tyrus Raymond Cobb >
      • Cobb: A Biography By Al Stump
      • Damn Yankees
      • How Cobb Played the Game
      • How Cobb Played the Game - Part 4
      • Inside Baseball With TY COBB
      • My Life in Baseball
      • My Twenty Years in Baseball
      • Tricks That Won
    • Harry Coveleski
    • Billy Evans - Umpire
    • David Lewis (Dave) Fultz
    • Burleigh Arland Grimes >
      • Burleigh Grimes: Baseball's Last Legal Spitballer
      • Burleigh Grimes - TheBaseballPage.com
    • Tim Hurst - Umpire Extraordinaire - Joe Dittmar
    • Travis "Stonewall" Jackson >
      • Travis "Stonewall" Jackson Story
      • Travis Calvin Jackson (1903–1987)
      • New York Giants: An Informal History of a Great Baseball Club (Writing Baseball) by Mr. Frank Graham Jr. and Mr. Ray Robinson (Apr 1, 2002)
    • William Henry Keeler
    • Sam Leever
    • John Kelly Lewis, Jr.
    • Jackie Mitchell >
      • Baseball: A Special Gift from God
      • Encyclopedia of Women and Baseball
      • Encyclopedia.com - Mitchell, Jackie (1914–1987)
      • The Woman Who (Maybe) Struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig
      • Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball - Jackie Mitchell
    • O’Loughlin
    • Hub Perdue
    • Tom Seaton and Casey Smith
    • Casey Stengel >
      • May 11, 1960 - Corpus Christi Times, TX - Casey Starts 2nd 50 Years in Baseball
      • Stengel: His Life and Times by Robert W. Creamer
      • Unforgettable Casey Stengel: Billy Martin with Mark Kram
      • You Could Look It Up: The Life of Casey Stengel Maury Allen, 1979 Times Books
      • Young Casey - http://ourgame.mlblogs.com
    • Gabby Street
    • William Harold Terry >
      • September 21, 1933 - The Story of Bill Terry by Daniel M. Daniel
      • When the Giants Were Giants: Bill
      • '''Terrible Terry''' By Bill Terry, Manager of the New York Giants, as told to Arthur Mann
    • Cecil Travis >
      • Cecil Travis of the Washington Senators: The War-Torn Career of an All-Star Shortstop [Paperback] by Robert J. Kirkpatrick, Dave Kindred'
      • Cecil Howell Travis - Shortstop - SUPER SENATOR!
    • James “Jim” Riley Turner
    • George Edward (Rube) Waddell >
      • Baseball History Daily
    • Honus Wagner
    • Mose J. YellowHorse
  • Time Line
    • 1875 - 1899 >
      • 1875 - Born in Pomeroy, OH >
        • April 13, 1875 - Norman A. Elberfield in the Ohio, Births and Christenings Index,
      • 1876 - Pomeroy, OH
      • 1880 - At home
      • 1891 - Cincinnati, OH >
        • 1891 Residence - Cincinnati, OH
      • 1892 - Cincinnati, OH >
        • 1892 Residence - Cincinnati, OH
        • 1900 - Detroit
      • 1894 - Norwood >
        • 1894 Residence - Cincinnati, OH
        • October 22, 1894 - The Cincinnati Enquirer
      • 1895 - Clarksville, KY >
        • 1895 - Clarksville, KY
      • 1896 - Texas >
        • 1896 Residence - Cincinnati, OH
        • June 20, 1896 - The Public Ledger - Maysville, KY - Article on Kid Eberfeld
        • July 6, 1896 - The Public Ledger - Maysville, KY
        • August 14, 1896 - The Public Ledger - Maysville, KY
      • 1897 - Richmond Bluebirds, Johnnie Rebs, Giants - traded to Philadelphia Phillies >
        • 1897 Residence - Cincinnati, OH
        • 1897 - Kid Elberfeld listed with statistics for Richmond
        • September 9, 1897 Richmond Virginia Herald- Picture and story
        • May 7, 1897 - The Times - Richmond VA
      • 1898 - Philadelphia to Detroit >
        • March 24, 1898 - The Times, Philadelphia, PA
        • April 20, 1898 - The Cincinnati Enquirer
        • September 19, 1898 - Cincinnati Enquirer, OH
        • 1899 Cincinnati Roster
      • 1899 - Detroit to Cincinnati >
        • 1899 Residence - Cincinnati, OH
        • June 19, 1899 - Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan)- Kid Elberfeld Hit by Pitch
        • August 1, 1899 - Elberfeld attacks Haskell
        • August 14, 1899 - The Kansas City Journal, MO
        • August 22, 1899 - The Journal News - Hamilton, OH
        • August 22, 1899 - Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) - Kid Elberfeld sold to Cincinnati
    • 1900 - 1909 >
      • 1900 - Cincinnati to Richomond >
        • 1900 Residence - Cincinnati, OH
        • 1900 Federal Census
        • June 10, 1900 - Detroit Free Press Box Score
        • July 18, 1900 - The Cincinnati Enquirer, OH
        • August 31, 1900 - The Indianapolis News, IN
        • August 31, 1900 - The Indianapolis News, IN
        • October 14, 1900 - The Journal and Tribune Knoxville, Tennessee - Norma Elberfeld marries Emily Grace Catlow
      • 1901 - Richmond Bluebirds, Detroit Tigers >
        • 1901 Uniform - American League Detroit
        • 1901 - in Old Detroit
        • 1901 - Detroit Lineup and Summary
        • 1901 - Summary of year for the Detroit Tigers
        • 1901 - Detroit Tiger Lineup
        • January 7, 1901 - The Daily Inter Ocean - Chicago, IL
        • March, 1901 - Richmond Bluebirds
        • April 29, 1901 - Pop Dillon and Kid Elberfeld hit homers
        • August 22, 1901 - The Boston Post, MA
        • August 22, 1901 - The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) - Elberfeld Arrested
        • August 22, 1901 - The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) - Elberfeld A​rrested
        • September 3, 1901 - Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) - Record Assists
        • November 10, 1901 - The St. Paul Globe MI
      • 1902 - Detroit >
        • January 9, 1902 - Peace Treaty
        • 1902 Detroit Tigers Season
        • 1902 Detroit Tigers Lineup
        • August 1, 1902 - Detroit Tigers
        • August 4, 1902 - Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) - Elberfeld Will Remain in Detroit
        • August 25, 1902 - The Evening World, NYC, NY
        • December 2, 1902 - The Pittsburgh Press - Discoverer of Elberfeld
      • 1903 - Traded by Detroit Tigers to New York Highlanders (Yankees) >
        • 1903 - Abram I. Elkus: The New York Yankees' First Lawyer - ​KENTUCKY LAW JOURNAL - C. Norman Elberfeld's Injunction (1903)
        • 1903 American League Preview
        • 1903 American League - 1903 American League History
        • April 15, 1903. - Arizona Tombstone Epitaphs.
        • April 30, 1903 - First Yankee Home Game
        • May 7, 1903 - Detroit Free Press
        • June 3, 1903 - The Cincinnati Enquirer, OH
        • June 3, 1903 St. Louis Globe-Democrat (St. Louis, Missouri) - Kid charged with Throwing Games
        • June 6, 1903 - The Cincinnati Enquirer, OH
        • June 8, 1903 - The Washington Post
        • June 19, 1903 - The Evening World, NYC, NY - Elberfeld plays for NY in Detroit
        • July 4, 1903 - The New York Times
        • July 5, 1903 -The St. Louis Republic, MO - American and National League
        • July 16, 1903 - The Washington Post - BASEBALL CASE IN COURT.
        • July 17, 1903 - The Ottawa Evening Journal, Canada
        • July 19, 1903 - The New York Times
        • July 25, 1903 - Utica Sunday Globe - Article and Picture
        • August 1, 1903 - Rube Wadell Story
        • October 5, 1903 - Cincinnati Enquirer, IL
        • November 17, 1903 - The Cincinnati Enquirer. OH
      • 1904 - Highlanders >
        • February 2, 1904 - The St. Paul Gobe, MO - NORMAN ELBERFELD TELLS OF SOME GREAT PLAYS
        • February 3, 1904 - Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) - Huge Story
        • September 4, 1904 - The Washington Post, DC
        • September 17, 1904 Sporting Life Article and Photo
        • October 10, 1904 - The Chesbro Wild Pitch
        • October 10, 1904 - Elberfeld's Comment
        • December 9, 1904 - The Wilkes-Barre Record, PA
      • 1905 - Highlanders >
        • February 5, 1905 - The Inter Ocean, Chicago, IL
        • April 5, 1905 - The Evening World, NYC NY
        • June 3, 1905 - The Evening World, NYC, NY
        • June 5, 1905 - The Evening World NYC NY
        • July 14, 1905 - Detroit Free Press
        • July 5, 1905 - The Evening World, NYC, NY
        • August 12, 1905 - The Inter Ocean, Chicago, IL
        • Augusts 21, 1905 - The New York Times
        • August 21, 1905 - The Inter Ocean, Chicago, IL
        • August 22, 1905 - The Minneapolis Journal, MN
        • August 24, 1905 - The Washington Post
        • August 31, 1905 - Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) - Ty Cobb's First Game - Elberfeld
        • September 10, 1905 - The Washington Post, DC - Run in with umpire
        • October 1, 1905 - The New York Tribune, NY
        • October 1, 1905 - The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY
        • October 2, 1905 - The Washington Post, DC
      • 1906 - Highlanders >
        • 1906 Season
        • February 18, 1906 - The Scranton Republican, PA
        • March 21, 1906 - The New York Times
        • May 15, 1906 - The New York Times
        • June 3, 1906 - The Washington Post
        • June 10, 1906 - The Washington Post
        • June 13, 1906 - Daily Press (Sheboygan, WI)
        • August 9, 1906 - St. Louis Globe-Democrat St. Louis, Missouri - Elberfeld Tries to Assault Empire
        • August 10. 1906 - The New York Times
        • August 14, 1906 - The Washington Post, DC
        • August 17, 1906 - The Washington Post, DC
        • August 19, 1906 - The Washington Post, DC
        • August 19, 1906 - Los Angeles Herald, CA
        • August 29, 1906 - The New York Times
        • September 4, 1906 - The New York Times
        • September 4, 1906 - The Inter Ocean, Chicago, IL
        • September 7, 1906 - The Evening Star, Washington, DC
        • September 24, 1906 - The New York Times
        • October 4, 1906 - Harrisburg Telegraph, PA - Elberfeld Invents New Game
        • October 30, 1906 - The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
        • Nov 4, 1906 - Los Angeles Times, CA - Elberfeld Invents New Game
      • 1907 - Highlanders >
        • January 10, 1907 - The Post Standard (Syracuse, New York)
        • January 27,1907 - The Washington Post
        • May 10, 1907 - The New York Times
        • May 11, 1907 - Invention of the Squeeze Play
        • May 15, 1907 - The Day, New London, CT - Double Score on Squeeze Play
        • June 28, 1907 - Chadron Record (Chadron, Nebraska) -
        • July 29, 1907 - The Pittsburgh Press - Likely to Trade
        • August 7, 1907 - The New York Times
        • August 8, 1907 - Pittsburgh Press
        • August 19, 1907 - The New York Times
        • August 19, 1907 - Waterbury Democrat (Waterbury, Connecticut) - Kid Elberfeld and Ump Brennan story
        • September 30, 1907 - The Worst Call Ever!
      • 1908 - Injury ends playing season, becomes Highlander's manager >
        • 1908 Season Summary - Reach
        • February 16, 1908 - The New York Times - SPRING TRAINING FOR LOCAL TEAMS
        • March 11, 1908 - New London, CT Day
        • June 25, 1908 - The Washington PostB
        • July 5, 1908 - The Courier, Harrisburg, PA - New Manager aticle
        • June 13, 1908 - The Daily Press - Sheboygan, WI
        • June 26, 1908 - The New York Times
        • June 26, 1908 - The Anaconda Standard MT
        • July 5, 1908 - The New York Times
        • July 21, 1908 - Sheboygan Daily Press
        • August 20, 1908 - The New York Times
        • 1908 New York Highlanders Season Recap
        • December 6, 1908 - The Washington Post
        • Dec 9, 1908 - The Washington Post - NO DEALS TO BE MADE
      • 1909 - To Washington >
        • Jan 15, 1909 - The Washington Post
        • January 26, 1909 - The Washington Post
        • April 1, 1909 - The New York Times - NO ELBERFELD DEAL
        • April 10, 1909 - The New York Times
        • April 11, 1909 - The New York Times
        • April 20, 1909 - The New York Times - Elberfeld is Ill
        • May 8, 1909 New-York Tribune (New York, New York) - Umpire Punches Elberfeld
        • May 8, 1909 - The La Crosse Tribune (La Crosse, Wisconsin) - Umpire Hurst Hits Elberfield
        • May 8, 1909 - The New York Times
        • May 18, 1909 - The Spokane Press (Spokane, Washington) - Article Against Violence in Baseball
        • June 19, 1909 - The New York Times - Elberfeld is Banished
        • November 03, 1909 - The Ogdensburg journal, NY
        • November 14, 1909 - Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) - Elberfeld out of NY
        • December 8, 1909 - The Ogdensburg Journal, NY - Stallings to get rid of Elberfeld
        • December 14, 1909 - The Washington Post
        • December 15, 1909 - The Washington Post - BATTERY SPY ESCAPES
        • December 16, 1909 - Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia1 Elberfeld to Washington
    • 1910 - 1919 >
      • 1910 - Washington >
        • 1910 All-Star Team - Spalding
        • 1910 Census
        • March 27, 1910 - The New York Times
        • May 15, 1910 - The Washington Post
        • June 2, 1910 - The Washington Post
        • June 15, 1910 - The Washington Post - READY FOR ST. LOUIS
        • July 9, 1910 - The Marion Daily Star, OH - Elberfeld describing third base plays
        • October 5, 1910 - The Republican Farmer (Darlington, Wisconsin)
        • November 6, 1910 - The Washington Post, DC
        • December 9, 1910 - The Washington Herald
      • 1911 - Washington >
        • 1911 Washington Nationals
        • February 12, 1911 - The Washington Post
        • March 19, 1911 - The Washington Post
        • March 26, 1911 - The Washington Pos
        • March 31, 1911 - The Ogdensburg journal
        • April 24, 1911 - The Washington Post
        • November 1, 1911 - Sheboygan Press WI
        • July 4, 1911 - The New York Times
        • Dec 12, 1911 The Washington Post pg. 8 Naps and Tigers Refuse to Waive on Pitcher Groom
        • December 15, 1911 - The Baltimore Sun
        • December 19, 1911 - Vancouver Daily World, BC
        • December 21, 1911 - The Washington Post
      • 1912 - Montgomery >
        • 1912 - In Montgomery with Casey Stengel
        • January 14, 1912 - The Pittsburgh Press - Elberfeld May Be Released
        • January 19, 1912 - Evening Post (Frederick, Maryland)
        • January 21, 1912 - The Washington Times, DC
        • May 26, 1912 - The Washington Post
        • August 27, 1912 Evening Post (Frederick, Maryland)
        • October 31, 1912 - Ogdensburg Journal, NY
      • 1913 - Chattanooga >
        • 1913 Southern League Records
        • March 3, 1913 - The Ogdensburg Journal, NY
        • April 20, 1913 - The Washington Post
        • July 14, 1913 - The Daily Commonwealth - Fon du Lac, WI
      • 1914 - Brooklyn >
        • January, 1914 - The International Confectioner
        • February 16, 1914 - Lima Daily News, OH
        • February 16, 1914 - Lima Daily News, OH
        • February 28, 1914 - The Indianapolis Star. IN
        • April 1, 1914 Evening Post (Frederick, Maryland) -Elberfeld with Brooklyn
        • May 21, 1914 - The Milwaukee Sentinel
        • August 4, 1914 - Colorado Spring Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
        • December 18, 1914 - Christian Science Monitor
      • 1915 - Chattnooga >
        • January 11, 1915 - Waiver from Brooklyn Robins - carbon copy
        • April 28, 1915 - The Ogdensburg Journal NY
      • 1916 - Chattanooga >
        • April 6, 1916 - The New York Times
        • April 16, 1916 The Lincoln Daily Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) - Chattanooga Manager
        • April 12, 1916 - The Lincoln Daily Star, NE
        • June 1, 1916 - Daily Sentinal (Fitchburg, MA)
        • June 4, 1916 - The Washington Post
      • 1917 - Chattanooga Lookouts Manager >
        • April 10, 1917 - Reading News-Times, PA - Birthday Article
        • April 16, 1917 - The Washington Post
        • April 25, 1917 - Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas) - Predicts Elberfeld will be fined
        • April 25, 1917 - The Chattanooga News (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Treatment by Umpires​
        • April 26, 1917 - Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Play Pink-Tea Ball
        • April 26, 1917 - Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Elberfeld Ejected
        • April 27, 1917 The Chattanooga News -Tea Party and Silence
        • April 27, 1917 - Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Elberfeld Suspended and Fined
        • April 29, 1917 - Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas) - Elberfeld the Silent
        • April 30, 1917 - The Birmingham News (Birmingham, Alabama) - Elberfeld out for week
        • May 1, 1917 - Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas) - Tea Party
        • May 1, 1917 - Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)- Presdient's Reaction to Tea Party
        • May 1, 1917 - The Chattanooga News (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Military Training for Team
      • 1918 - Little Rock >
        • July 12, 1918 Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)
        • August 4, 1918 - The Washington Post
        • September 27, 1918 - World War I Draft Registration
        • October 15, 1918 - Connellsville PA Daily Courier
      • 1919 - Little Rock >
        • March 29, 1919 - Arkansas Democrat
        • April 24, 1919 - Daily Arkansas Gazette
        • May 9, 1919 - Daily Arkansas Gazette
        • May 9, 1919 Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)
        • May 24, 1919 - Daily Arkansas Gazette
        • July 12, 1919 - Daily Arkansas Gazette
        • July 26, 1919 - The Milwaukee Sentinel - Atlanta Grabs Kid Elberfeld
        • September 4, 1919 - The Washington Post
        • October 7, 1919 - Christian Science Monitor
    • 1920 - 1929 Tme Line >
      • 1920 - Little Rock Arkansas Travelers Manager >
        • 1920 Census
        • 1920 Residence - Little Rock, AR
        • 1920 Little Rock Travelers Manager - Record
        • 1920 Little Rock Manager and the Memphis Chicks
        • June 13, 1920 - The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) - Elberfeld Suspended
        • August 17, 1920 - The Washington Post
        • September 27, 1920 - The Time Tribune, Altoona, PA
        • September 28, 1920 - Christian Science Monitor
        • October 29, 1920 - Olean Evening Herald
      • 1921 - Little Rock Travelers Manager >
        • June 19, 1921 Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas) - Nan Elberfeld Athletics
        • August 6, 1921 - The Washington Post
      • 1922 - Little Rock, AR >
        • 1922 Residence - Little Rock, AR
        • January 23, 1922 -Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas)
        • March 19, 1922 - Arkansas Democrat
        • April 18, 1922 - The New York Times t
        • June 14, 1922 - The Charleston Daily Mail (Charleston, West Virginia)
        • July 6, 1922 - The New York Times - PRODIGAL YANKS RETURN TO FOLD
        • July 16, 1922 - Port Arthur Daily News (Port Arthur, Texas) - Kid Elberfield Yet Wields Wicked Pair Of Clinched Dukes
        • July 25, 1922, Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, Arkansas)
        • September 5, 1922 - The Washington Post
        • December 1, 1922 - The Bronson Pilot
      • 1923 - Little Rock >
        • 1923 Residence - Little Rock, AR
        • February 23, 1923 - Arkansas Democrat
        • May 18, 1923 - Lima News (Lima, Ohio)
        • May 20, 1923 - The Washington Post
        • September 8, 1923 Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Nan Elberfeld Bio - Lincoln Evening Journal, NB
        • October 1, 1923 -St. Louis Post-Dispatch
        • December 12, 1923 - The New York Times
      • 1924 - Little Rock >
        • March 2, 1924 Zanesville Times Signal (Zanesville, Ohio) P7
        • March 8, 1924 Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) - Kid Elberfeld Story Clarksville
      • 1925 - Mobile, AL >
        • 1925 - Residence - Little Rock, Arkansas
        • April 4, 1925 - The Washington Post
        • April 5, 1925 The Washington Post - Kid Elberfeld Tries to 'Ride' Umpires
        • May 21, 1925 - The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee) - Elberfeld's First Game as Manager of Mobile Bears.
      • 1926 - Chattanooga >
        • May 27, 1926 Billings Gazette, MT
        • June 2, 1926 - Ironwood Daily Globe, MI - Like Lamb Now
        • August 5, 1926 - The Frederick Post (Frederick, Maryland)
        • August 26, 1926 - Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Elberfeld Girls at AAU Sim Meet
      • June 9, 1926 - Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Nan Elberfeld Wins Tennis Title
      • 1927 - Retired in Tennessee >
        • 1927 Residence - Chattanooga, TN
        • ​January 24, 1926 - The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) - Elberfeld has Basketball Team
        • February 24 1927 - Lima News (Lima, Ohio)
        • August 9, 1927 - Pittston Gazette (Pittston, Pennsylvania) - Assist Record Broken
        • August 26, 1926 - Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Elberfeld Girls at AAU Sim Meet
        • September 8, 1927 - The Kansas City Star - Rears a Champion Family
      • 1928 - Chattanooga, TN >
        • 1928 Residence - Chattanooga, TN
      • 1929 - Chattanooga, TN >
        • 1929 Residence - Chattanooga, TN
        • February 11, 1929 The Des Moines Register
        • ​March 30. 1929 Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Nan Elberfeld Track Coach at Lookout Junior High
        • May 17, 1929 - The Constitution Tribune (Chillicothe, Missouri)
        • May 28 , 1929 -Pottsville Republican Pottsville, Pennsylvania - Elberfeld Out by Umpire Edict
        • Jun 21, 1929 Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Nan Elberfeld in in Auto Crash
        • July 22, 1929 The Frederick Post (Frederick, Maryland)
        • August 23, 1929 - The Chattanooga News Chattanooga, Tennessee - Jack Elberfeld Marriage
    • 1930 - 1939 >
      • 1930 - School >
        • 1930 Census
        • 1930 Residence - Chattanooga, TN
        • January 20, 1930 - Springfield Leader, MO
        • February 4, 1930 - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
        • June 29, 1930 - The Sunday News and Leader, MO
        • September 24, 1930 - Key West FL Citizen
      • 1931 - Chattanooga, TN >
        • 1931 Residence - Chattanooga, TN
        • March 26, 1931 - Blytheville Courier News, AR
        • April 2, 1931 - Miami Daily News-Record. OK - Jackie Mitchell
        • April 6, 1931 - The Evening Independent - Massillon, OH
        • May 25, 1931 - Chattanooga Daily Times- Marriage of Miriam Elberfeld
      • 1932 - Signal Mountain, TN >
        • 1932 Residence - Chattanooga, TN
      • 1933 - Running Schools >
        • March 22, 1933 - The Chronicle-Telegram - Elyria, OH - Baseball School
        • May 18, 1933 - Ironwood Daily Globe, MI
        • May 25, 1933 - Plattsburgh Daily Republican, NY
        • September 27, 1933 Lima News (Lima, Ohio)
      • 1934 - Baseball School >
        • March 25, 1934 - The Brooklyn Daily Eagle NY
      • 1935 - Signal Mountain, TN >
        • 1935 Residence - Signal Mountain, TN
        • Feb 7 1935 - Elberfeld at Gadsden
      • 1936 - Fultonville Eagles >
        • 1936 - Manager Fulton Kitty League
        • 1936 - Manager of Fultonville Eagles
        • Mar 25, 1936 - The Washington Post
        • March 1936 - Elberfeld School
        • December 15, 1936 - The Chattanooga News (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Elberfeld Girls Play Badminton
      • 1937 - Signal Mountain, TN >
        • 1937 Residence - Signal Mountain, TN
        • June 12, 1937 - The Chattanooga News (Chattanooga, Tennessee) Nan Elberfeld Swim
        • August 16, 1937 - Nashville Banner (Nashville, TN) - Cecil Travis at Elberfeld's School​
      • 1938 - Signal Mountain, TN >
        • 1938 Residence - Signal Mountain, TN
        • March 10, 1938 - Ogdensburg Journal, NY
        • May 10, 1938 - Look Magazine
        • August 17, 1938 - Springfield Leader and Press (Springfield, Missouri) - Manager of Fulton in Kitty League
      • 1939 - Schools >
        • December 21, 1939 - The Ogdensburg Journal, NY
    • 1940 - Present Time >
      • 1940 - Signal Mountain, Tennessee >
        • 1940 Census - Hamilton County, TN
        • 1940 Memories of Kid Elberfeld by Carter B. Norman (Minden, LA)
        • 1940 - 1943 Minden LA Basebal Camp
        • March 27, 1940 - The Sandusky Register, OH
        • March 30, 1940 - Frederick Post, MD
      • 1941 - Signal Mountain, TN >
        • 1941 - Residence - Signal Mountain, TN
        • March 8, 1941 - Washington Post, DC
      • 1942 - Signal Mountain, TN >
        • 1942 Residence - Signal Mountain, TN
        • 1942 Joe Stripp School
      • 1944 - Death and Obituaries >
        • Norman Arthur Elberfeld (Kid Elberfeld) Death Certificate
        • January 11, 1944 - Los Angeles Times, CA
        • January 11, 1944 - Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY - Elberfeld Ill
        • January 13, 1944 - Norman Elberfeld in the Tennessee, Deaths and Burials Index
        • January 14, 1944 - The New York Times - Obituary
        • January 14, 1944 - The Anniston Star, AL - Obituary
        • January 14, 1944 - The Dothan Eagle, Alabama
        • January 15, 1944 - Nevada State Journal, Reno, NV
        • January 15, 1944 - Kingsport News, TN - Obituary
        • January 16, 1944 - Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Florida - Obituary
        • January 17, 1944 - The Brooklyn Eagle
        • January 19, 1944 - THE NASHVILLE BANNER - Several Stories
        • January 19, 1944 - The Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA
        • January 19, 1944 - The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) - Memorial in Little Rock, AK Proposed
        • January 20, 1944 - Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) - Elberfeld and Spikes
        • January 20, 1944 - Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Kentucky) - Memories of Elberfeld in Kentucky
        • January 21, 1944 - The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
        • January 21, 1944 -The Birmingham News (Birmingham, Alabama) - Story
        • January 26, 1944 - The Morning Call (Paterson, New Jersey)​ - Elberfeld stories
        • January 29, 1944 - The El Paso Herald Post, TX
        • February 2, 1944 - Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
        • February 3, 1944 - Kingsport News, TN
        • February 9, 1944 - Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
        • February 11, 1944 - The Montana Standard (Butte, Montana) - Picture
        • Norman Arthur Elberfeld (Kid Elberfeld) Grave Stone, Chattanooga, TN.
        • Kid Elberfeld - January 14, 1944 - Miami Daily News, Florida - Obituary
        • August 27, 1944 - Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Elberfeld Ejected
      • 1945
      • 1947 - Elberfeld Tributes >
        • July , 1947 - Chattanooga Times - Mawnin'
        • July 7, 1947 - Chattanooga Times, TN
      • 1950
      • 1952
      • 1954
      • 1958
      • 1959
      • 1961 - Death of Kid Elberfeld's wife, Grace Catlow >
        • July 18, 1961 - Des Moines Tribune (Des Moines, Iowa) - Elberfeld Story
      • 1966 >
        • May 17, 1966 - Syracuse Herald-Journal
      • 1969
      • 1975
      • 1977 - Tribute
      • 1978 >
        • January 16, 1978 - News-Press
      • 1985
      • 1986 - Baylor breaks hit by pitch record
      • 2000 - The Impact of a Baseball Warrior on Minden, LA
  • Team Histories
    • Baseball in Richmond By Ron Pomfrey
    • Baseball Team Names: A Worldwide Dictionary, 1869-2011 By Richard Worth -
    • Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) - Brief History
    • Detroit Tigers Season Lookback - TigerBlog.net
    • Ed Barrow: The Bulldog Who Built the Yankees' First Dynasty Paperback – March 1, 2010
    • Pro baseball has long, rich history in Richmond - Bill Lohmann
    • Yankees Century: 100 Years of New York Yankees Baseball by Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson
    • 2002 Yankees Yearbook: The Birth of the Yankees By Marty Appel
  • Photos and Drawings
    • Team Photos with Kid Elberfeld >
      • 1901 Detroit Tigers Team Photo - Set of individual photos
      • 1901 Detroit Tigers Team Photo - Team Photo
      • 1901 Detroit Club
      • 1902 Detroit Tigers Team Photo
      • 1903 Detroit Tigers Team Photo
      • 1903 Detroit Tigers Team Photo - 2
      • 1903 New York Highlanders Baseball Team
      • 1903 New York American League Club - Reach's
      • 1904 New York American League Base Ball Team
      • 1904 New York Highlanders Team Photo - Individual Pictures >
        • A History of Detroit Tigers Shortstops By Brad Smith
      • 1905 New York Highlanders Team Picture - Individual Pictures
      • 1905 Highlander - LaJoi Pub
      • 1906 New York Highlanders Team Photo
      • 1906 New York Baseball Club
      • 1906 Group of New York Americans
      • 1906 New York American League Team - Spaldings
      • 1907 New York Team - American League
      • 1907 New York Highlanders Team Photo - Individual Pictures
      • ​1907 New York, American League
      • 1907 - A Group of New York Americans - Spalding
      • 1908 New York American League Base Ball Team
      • 1908 New York American League Highlanders on Donkeys
      • 1908 American League Team Managers
      • 1908 New York Players
      • 1908 The New York Team - Reach
      • 1908 New York American League Team - Spalding
      • 1909 New York American League Team Picture
      • 1910 Washington Players - Spalding Official Base Ball Guide
      • 1910 Washing Am L Players
      • 1910 American League All Stars
      • 1910 Group of Washington Players - Spalding
      • 1911 Washington Senators
      • 1911 American League Fielder
      • 1912 Montgomery Rebels Team Picture
      • 1913 Chattanooga Lookouts
      • 1914 Brooklyn National League Team (Robins)
      • 1919 Little Rock Team
      • 1920 Little Rock Team
      • 1922 Little Rock Team
      • 1937 American Legion Baseball Team - The Wester Team from Chattanooga, TN
    • Photos from news papers >
      • 1898 Kid Elberfeld - Philadelphia Phillies Sporting Life Player Panel​
      • August 25, 1902 - The Evening World, NYC, NY - Picture
      • July 5, 1903 -The St. Louis Republic, MO - Picture
      • October 7, 1903 - The Winnipeg Tribune, Canada - Photo
      • February 2, 1904 - The St. Paul Gobe, MO - Drawing
      • April 16, 1904 - The Washington Times, DC - Photo
      • August 28, 1904 - The Hew York Times - Photo
      • April 21, 1905 - The Evening World, NYC NY
      • April 8, 1906 - The New York Times - Photo
      • 1909 Publication - New York Yankees Gallery Star #5 Series B
      • July 9, 1910 The Marion Daily Star, OH
      • November 6, 1910 - The Washington Post, DC - Photo
      • March 19, 1911 - The Washington Post, DC - Photo
      • July 23, 1911 - Sandusky Register, OH - Picture
      • January 21, 1912 - The Washington Times, DC - Photo
      • July 14, 1913 - The Daily Commonwealth - Fond Du Lac, WI
      • January 1914 - The International Confectioner
      • May 18, 1933 - Ironwood Daily Globe, MI - Photos
      • March 25, 1934 - The Brooklyn Daily Eagle - Cartoon
      • August 29, 1937 - Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - Elberfeld farming photo
    • September 9, 1897 Richmond Virginia Herald - Picture
    • 1903 - The Detroit Tigers: A Pictorial Celebration of the Greatest Players and Moments in Tigers History
    • 1903 Formal Portrait - New York Highlanders
    • 1903 - Kid Elberfeld - Famous image
    • July 25, 1903 - Utica Saturday Globe Picture
    • August 17, 1904 - Sporting Life Article Picture
    • 1905? - Kid Elberfeld of the Yankees
    • 1905 - Elberfeld Picking Up a Grounder
    • 1905 - Kid Elberfeld in New York Uniform
    • 1906 New York Highlander
    • 1908 Pictures from defunct web site
    • 1903 or 1908 Elberfeld Photo by Conlon
    • 1908 - 1910 Library of Congress Collection
    • 1908 - Press Photo
    • 1909 - Chicago Daily News Photo
    • 1909 Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
    • 1910-1911 - The Sporting News Press Photo
    • 1911 Kid Elberfeld Making third base - Spalding
    • 1911 Paul Thompson Photo - Kid Elberfeld - Washington
    • Washington Fielding
    • Older Professional Photos >
      • 1920s Kid Elberfeld with young helper
      • 1928 Press Photo Holding a Bat - Kid Elberfeld
      • 1930s Chattanooga - Engel Stadium
      • February, 1931 Kid Elberfeld Baseball School in Atlanta, GA
      • 1933 Posed Photos
      • May 12, 1933 Norman "Kid" Elberfeld Cleveland, OH Clinic
      • George Brace Post Card
    • 1938 Ray Doan's Baseball School >
      • 1938 Johnny Mostil, Ray Doan, and Kid Elberfeld
      • 1938 Kid Elberfeld at Ray Doan's Baseball School
      • 1938 Cy Young and Kid Elberfeld, Hot Springs, AR
      • 1938 Doan's Baseball School - Keep That Left Foot
      • 1938 Ray Doan's Baseball School - How to Tag a Runner
      • 1938 Ray Doan's Baseball School - Hits the Dirt
      • 1938 Ray Doan Instructors
  • Elberfeld Girls
    • Baseball Legend Kid Elberfeld and His Famous Athlete Daughters — The Elberfeld Girl
    • 2024 Summer The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi
    • October 9, 1921 - Daily Arkansas Gazette
    • August 29, 1923 - The Eau Claire Leader, WI
    • December, 1924 - The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity - Nan Elberfeld Article
    • March 3, 1926 - The Kingsport Times, TN - Elberfeld Girls Basketball Team
    • March 6, 1926 Gastonia Daily Gazette, Gastonia, NC
    • September 11, 1927 - The Independent Record - Helena, MT - Elberfeld Family
    • February 8. 1928 - The Charleroi Mail PA
    • January 20, 1930 - Springfield Leader, MO
    • August 1, 1935 Chattanooga Daily Times NAN Elberfeld Tennis
    • Nan Elberfeld
  • Ejections and Suspensions
  • Memorial Plaque
  • 1917 Tea Party and Silent Treatment
  • All Star Teams
    • October 13, 1910 Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) - Elberfeld on All-Star Team
  • Contact
  • 1922 Little Rock Team
  • May 21, 1925 - The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee)
  • February 1944 - Obituary Photo
  • 2025 APBA Game Card
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The Great Wigwag Scheme of 1909 By Mike Lynch
Picture
Kid Elberfeld August 17, 1904 Sporting Life Article Picture
It was Sept. 25, 1909 and the New York Highlanders were going nowhere fast. But things were about to get better fast, thanks to a notable bit of baseball chicanery.

Heading into a twin-bill against the first-place and eventual American League champion Detroit Tigers, New York was fifth and 23 games behind with a 68-73 record. Led by second baseman Frank LaPorte, outfielders Clyde Engle and Ray Demmitt and first baseman Hal Chase, the team’s offense was in the middle of the pack, scoring 3.86 runs per game.

Though the pitching staff boasted a starter in Joe Lake, who posted a 1.88 earned run average and part-time starter Jack Quinn, who pitched to a 1.97 ERA, the unit as a whole ranked next to last in the league in runs allowed per game at 3.84.

The Highlanders, who officially became the Yankees upon moving from Hilltop Park into the Polo Grounds in 1913, finished the season a week later, still in fifth place at 74-77 and 23 1/2 games out of first. But considering they had suffered through the worst season in franchise history in 1908, going 51-103 under managers Clark Griffith (24-32) and Kid Elberfeld (27-71), the 1909 campaign was a success. Plus, the Highlanders reached a half-million in attendance for the first time, pulling in 501,000 paying customers.

Known as “The Tabasco Kid” for his demeanor — he was once called the “dirtiest, scrappiest, most pestiferous, most rambunctious ballplayer that ever stood on spikes” — Elberfeld angered and alienated teammates, who questioned his managerial qualifications and eventually revolted. That he was tabbed to manage the squad was odd considering he’d been suspended by owner Frank Farrell in 1907 for “indifferent work in the field and at the bat.” 

Under Elberfeld the team went 7-39 from late June to mid-August, prompting one writer to opine, “There was never a worse case of sulky laying down than Elberfeld’s last year. Mr. Farrell is reaping what he sowed.”

Farrell replaced Elberfeld with George Stallings, a 41-year-old former National League player and manager who guided the 1901 Tigers to a 74-61 record and third-place finish in their inaugural season. Stallings began his career in 1890 with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and went 0-for-11 in four games, then managed the Philadelphia Phillies in 1897 and part of 1898. The Phils went 55-77 and finished 10th in a 12 team league in ‘97 then were 19-27 under Stallings in ‘98 before Bill Shettsline took over.

 Stallings was an intelligent man, having graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1886 and studied medicine in Baltimore for a year before turning to professional baseball. Johnny Evers, who played for Stallings from 1914 to 1917, once said, “Mr. Stallings knows more baseball than any man with whom I have ever come in contact during my connection with the game.” This opinion gained further support in 1914 when Stallings’ “Miracle” Boston Braves went from last place on July 4 to win the National League pennant and sweep Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series. 

Boston second baseman Johnny Evers is shown here with manager George Stallings in the Braves dugout in 1914. The Braves went from last to first during the 1914 season and beat the Philadelphia Athletics to capture the World Championship. 

In addition to his time in the majors, Stallings had minor league managerial experience, having piloted teams in the Southern Association, Western League and Eastern League and led the Class A Buffalo Bisons to pennants in 1904 and 1906.

Much like Elberfeld before him, Stallings was a controversial choice in New York. American League president Ban Johnson had effectively run Stallings out of the league in 1901 when he accused the Detroit skipper of trying to sell Tigers interests to the National League. Stallings refuted the claim, correctly citing that Johnson owned 51 percent of each club’s stock to prevent it from leaving the circuit, and he couldn’t sell anything even if he wanted to.  

Upon his hiring by the Highlanders, Sporting Life magazine wrote, “In securing George T. Stallings as team manager, President Farrell has made the best possible move, present conditions and availability considered. Stallings has not only wide experience but all other qualities that go to make a successful baseball leader.”  

The team got off to a decent enough start and on May 31 was in third place, only 4 1/2 games behind Detroit. But the wheels fell off in June. After jumping into second place on June 7, the Highlanders won only seven of their next 23 contests and fell to fifth place with a record of 29-31.

Interestingly, it was around that same time that Sporting Life wrote about Stallings’ opinion of Hilltop Park. “If there’s something about a grounds, such as a background to affect the batting eye, home players always figure that they get the worst of it, but George Stallings doesn’t agree with this view.”

His players might have been on to something, though. They scored 58 runs in their first eight home games through May, an average of 7.3, then managed only 3.9 runs a game at home in June. July wasn’t much better as the team struggled to a 14-19 record and dropped to sixth place with a 43-50 mark, and August was downright pathetic. Not only did the Highlanders lose 16 of 27 to fall to 54-66, but they averaged only 3.1 runs a game at home and 2.8 on the road.

On Aug. 31, the team was mired in sixth place, 23 games out of first, but it suddenly heated up in September, pushing across 4.6 runners a game at home. The Highlanders went 17-10 to pull within five games of .500, but not without some controversy.

On Sept. 26, reports surfaced that the Yankees were stealing signals from opposing catchers and that was the reason for their sudden offensive surge. Tigers manager Hughie Jennings had been tipped off to a “wigwag” scheme, so dubbed by the Chicago Tribune while his team was in Washington playing the Senators.

Washington skipper Joe Cantillon shared his suspicions about the Highlanders’ shenanigans, and the Tigers’ manager decided to investigate upon his team’s arrival in New York on Sept. 25. Jennings sent pitcher Bill Donovan to Hilltop Park’s outfield fence to take a look around, but the hurler could find nothing suspicious. Unsatisfied, Jennings dispatched team trainer Harry Tuthill to take a closer look.

During the third inning of the first game of the doubleheader, Tuthill discovered that the crossbar in the “H” of a Young’s Hats sign in center field was changing colors. Tuthill climbed the outfield fence and discovered a small enclosure covered in barbed wire where a man was sitting with binoculars and using a lever to signal to New York batters whether a straight ball or curveball was coming.

”The operator, seeing [Tuthill] coming, dropped his paraphernalia and bolted,” reported the Tribune. The Tigers’ trainer broke the lever, confiscated the binoculars and turned over the evidence to Jennings, who in turn handed over the goods to New York officials.

Glenn Stout writes in “Yankees Century” that earlier in the season Stallings had “rented an apartment opposite Hilltop Park that provided a good view of home plate” and had “installed a spotter in the apartment armed with a pair of field glasses” who would signal Highlanders hitters with a mirror. 

Late in the 1909 season, the Highlanders were accused of stealing signs from the Young’s Hat and O.F.C. Rye signs hanging from the outfield wall at Hilltop Park.

It was also reported that signals were coming from an O.F.C. Whiskey sign, wherein the “O” served to indicate what pitches were coming. Regardless, it appeared that the Highlanders had something up their collective sleeves.

Tuthill reportedly recognized the spy, but he and Jennings chose not to file a formal report because they hadn’t been harmed by the “signal-tipping bureau.”  But on Oct. 2, Ban Johnson demanded that Tuthill tell him everything he knew or risk expulsion from the league.

Two weeks later, J. Ed Grillo reported in the Washington Post that Johnson had enough evidence to “insist that the New York club sever its contract” with Stallings.

”Of course, he will be given a chance to defend himself,” Grillo wrote, “but with the abundance of evidence which the American League chief has gathered, it is not likely that there will be anything produced to show that Stallings was ignorant of what was going on between the centerfield fences.”

In the end, it was Johnson who “whitewashed” the whole affair and let New York off the hook. ”Had it been a weak club which was involved in the affair, he would probably have meted out some banishments from the game,” wrote Grillo, “but the New York club is too strong, and he did not dare take action.”

The official statement read: “Whereas charges having been printed in the public press to the effect that during the past season a sign-tipping bureau was operated on the grounds of the New York American League ball club; and whereas the board of directors of the American League has considered carefully all the evidence before it to the existence of such a bureau; therefore, be it resolved, that in the opinion of the board, the New York club is free from all complicity in such a tipping affair; be it further resolved, that it is the sense of the board that any manager or official proved guilty of operating a sign-tipping bureau should be barred from baseball for all time.”

Despite speculation that Highlanders manager George Stallings had orchestrated a way to steal opposing teams’ signs, there was no rule at the time which prohibited sign stealing in the manner that he was being accused. Following the 1909 season, the AL Board of Directors ruled that any team official found stealing signs in the future would be “barred from baseball for all time.”
Articles

John K. Elberfeld
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