Friday, November 3, 2023

George Ely

quite possibly him

1949-7-16 LA High practice field was of tanbark which poisoned bruises

a unique kind of lefty 2b

1903-8-31 lost 23-16 as pitcher
1903-9-14 possibly captain of the Express Newsboys?
1904-8-22 won 4-3 w/ 16 k's for Express team - I think it was him
1905-1-26 won 3-1 yesterday for LA HS
1905-4-16 awesome pic of him
1905-7-10 pitched & hit HR for Johnson Machine Works nine
1905-7-24 hit three triples
1905-8-04 about him - star prospect as pitcher- already approached abt going pro
        "When not playing in the box the one-armed wonder is still more spectacular in the outfield, where he has not made an error during the season. It is marvellous [sic] to see him trap the falling ball between his empty sleeve, his breast, and his left hand. No drive is too hard for him to tackle and hold." 
1905-8-06 for Chutes Hamburgers, beats Sioux Indians 6-5 as pitcher
1906-6-25 pitched for Dyas-Cline
1907-4-29 played a sensational game for Thistles
1907-10-14 McCredie of Portland doesn't make definite offer to Ely bc of handicap
1908-6-18 captain of Salt Lakes - only one-armed player in southern CA
1908-6-20 in recently completed Southern State League, tied for lead of Salt Lakes in batting : .333, 23H, 69 AB, 16 G
    teammate of Whitey Hensling
1908-6-27 a good pool player
1908-7-12 a good pitcher
1908-6-29 "George Ely... was the lonesome kid yesterday, because the Pasadena team ran out on the Salt Lake. Ely wandered around the South Side athletic field like one who had lost his best friend."
    LA Herald has box scores for the California Summer League too.
1908-7-13 in throwing contest, threw ball 324.5 feet
1908-8-04 pic + profile
    With barnstorming Sioux Indians "a few winters ago" he earned $50/ month - gave it all to mother w. exception of $10 / month for expenses. While in the mountains of San Bernardino killed a 4-pt deer.
1908-8-10 no box, but a HR short of cycle for Salt Lakes in Pacific League
1908-8-29 the other day Ely refused an offer to play with Santa Cruz of the outlaw league [CASL]
1908-8-30 pic & says he's going to play w/ Santa Cruz - huh?
1908-9-25 will pitch for Chutes v. bloomer girl team
1908-9-26 used to play for Eagles in Southern California League
1908-10-03 California Winter League rosters
1908-10-24 pic + descr.
1908-11-02 made unassisted double play for Salt Lakes
1908-11-09 gets 3 hits for Salt Lake Route - box score - in cf - in California Winter League
1908-11-12 profile
        hits .380, fields .985, has been in baseball last 7 years.
    "Ely thinks that a one-armed man, while handicapped to a certain degree, should be as good a player as one with both arms. He says that a man loses time transferring the ball from his right to left hand, which he would not do if he caught and threw the ball with the same hand." 
1908-12-13 "George Ely will play second base for the Edison team this afternoon, having received the consent of manager Mitchell of the Salt Lakes."
1908-12-31 cryptic also - game was protested
    "The game between San Diego and the Edisons over the playing of George Ely was awarded to the latter team at a meeting of the California Winter League last night." 
1909-1-01 will play 2nd for Riversides
1909-1-18 hit double for Maier's in duel of big leaguers - 1-0 win
        "George Ely, the fast one-armed second baseman of the Maiers team, played a sensational game at second base. Ely ran thirty yards backwards after a fly ball and received considerable applause when he grabbed it safely. 
    President Harry Lelande of the league and secretary of the PCL, with Freddie Maier and Hap Hogan, was present, and thought so well of Ely's playing that they may recommend him for the second team of the PCL." 
1909-2-20 ??? this must be garbled - says he's playing for black LA Giants
1909-3-07 Maier's team pic - report on team's performance in California Winter League - they finished 3rd.
1909-3-07 pic (same) + profile
        one of best pitchers and 2nd baseman in Southern California. Hit most home runs for Salt Lake team which won Southern States League. Has a brother, John - not quite as good. "During the night George is call boy at the Salt Lake Railroad company's office and during his spare moments studies telegraphy. 
1909-3-17 Maiers hold farewell party for Frank Whaling 
    "George Ely recited an original poem entitled, "Whaling at the Bat"
1909-4-17 line-up of Caldwell team
 1909-4-18 pic+profile 
    First came into prominence in 1907 as pitcher for LA HS - won two pennants for school. Pitched for the Sioux Indians one season on a barnstorming trip. Has won Southern State pennant, Summer League pennant, and CWL 2nd place finish. Has had many eastern offers but has turned them down for more alluring western offers. Heading to Caldwell, Idaho rn. In one game in CWL, hit HR, 3b, & 1b off Franz Hosp. Well liked by fans and players. 
1909-5-01 "The baseball season opened Sunday... When the game ended the score stood nine to one in favor of Caldwell. Ely, the one-armed wonder, made more than good; he now hails from Caldwell." 
1909-5-22 Caldwell is 3-1
1909-7-06 report on his playing in Idaho
1909-7-30 has returned from Intermountain League - will play for Gardena on Sunday
1909-9-15 teammate of Bert Whaling on Maier's
1909-9-30 Maier's have won 31 of last 37
1909-10-04 a picture of Ely will be on exhibition at Baer's drug store (Bakersfield)
1909-10-16 game v Bakersfield tomorrow - Del Traeger will pitch - Maiers have both MLB Elmer Rieger and Charles Hall
1909-11-12 Maier's have dinner at residence of Bill Whalen - Ely there
1910-3-26 will not be with LA All-Stars
1910-4-25 hero of game - hits walk-off double
1911-2-20 played for Doyles - Oscar Jones pitching
1911-7-14 playing for College Inn of L.A.
1911-12-18 benefit game played for Ely, who broke his leg. Hap Hogan umpired.
1912-4-20 intro to Venice team
1912-4-22 in line-up for Venice
1912-4-22 played really well
1948-5-31 Lefty Gervais, former MLB, remembers Ely - lefty 2b 
        "He recalls that Ely used the stub of his right arm, cut off at the elbow, to steady the bat at the plate and then developed a very powerful swing when he met the ball using only the left hand and arm." 

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Western League

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