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John Ellis (baseball)

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John Ellis
Ellis in 1970
First baseman / Catcher
Born: (1948-08-21)August 21, 1948
New London, Connecticut, U.S.
Died: April 5, 2022(2022-04-05) (aged 73)
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 17, 1969, for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 1981, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Batting average.262
Home runs69
Runs batted in391
Teams

John Charles Ellis (August 21, 1948 – April 5, 2022) was an American professional baseball player who played as a first baseman and catcher in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1981. He played for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, and Texas Rangers.

Career

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Ellis was a standout football and baseball player at New London High School in New London, Connecticut, earning the nicknames "New London Strong Boy" and the "Moose".[1][2] He signed with the New York Yankees as an undrafted free agent in 1966.[3] After playing in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut in 1969 as an injury replacement for catcher Jake Gibbs.[1] Ellis hit an inside-the-park home run in his major league debut. With Thurman Munson becoming the Yankees new starting catcher in 1970, the Yankees moved Ellis to first base. He batted .248 with seven home runs and 29 runs batted in (RBIs) in 78 games during the 1970 season.[4] For the 1972 season, Ellis was Munson's backup catcher.[5]

Ellis was traded along with Charlie Spikes, Rusty Torres, and Jerry Kenney from the Yankees to the Cleveland Indians for Graig Nettles and Jerry Moses at the Winter Meetings on November 27, 1972.[6] He became the first designated hitter in Cleveland Indians history in 1973.[7] Ellis had his best season in 1974, when he hit .285 with 10 home runs and 64 RBIs in 128 games.[1] That year, Ellis caught Dick Bosman's no-hitter on July 19.[8]

Ellis was dealt from the Indians to the Texas Rangers for Ron Pruitt and Stan Thomas at the Winter Meetings on December 9, 1975.[9] He played for the Rangers through the 1981 season, when he batted .138 in 28 games. The Rangers released Ellis before the start of the 1982 season.[10] He retired from baseball with a .262 batting average, 69 home runs, and 391 RBIs.[1] When he was released, Ellis took a position as a scout for the Rangers.[11]

Post-playing career

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Ellis invested in real estate as an offseason hobby. In 1977, he established his own real estate firm.[12]

Ellis was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma when he was 38 years old. He founded the Connecticut Cancer Foundation (formerly Connecticut Sports Foundation Against Cancer) with his wife Jane,[4][3] which helps cancer patients financially and funds cancer research. The foundation hosts an annual charity auction event at Mohegan Sun notable attendees including Roger Clemens, Mickey Mantle, Derek Jeter, Goose Gossage, Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, and other professional baseball players.[13][14]

Personal life

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Ellis had two children, John and Erika.[1] His son, John J. Ellis, was a baseball standout and played at the University of Maine and in the Texas Rangers system for three seasons.[15]

Ellis died on April 5, 2022, at the Yale New Haven Health System's Smilow Cancer Hospital, after a recurrence of his cancer.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Hallenbeck, Brian (April 7, 2022). "John Ellis, New London native and former major league baseball player, dies". The Day. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  2. ^ Amore, Dom; Courant, Hartford (April 7, 2022). "John Ellis, famed slugger from New London who raised millions to help families fighting cancer, dead at 73". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Sisson, William (August 2, 2016). "Profile of John Ellis, fisherman and former professional baseball player – Anglers Journal – A Fishing Life". Anglers Journal. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Krofssik, Sean (October 17, 2021). "SPORTS BOOKS: The life and times of Connecticut's Johnny Ellis". Record-Journal. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  5. ^ Koppett, Leonard (March 30, 1972). "YANKS WILL CARRY ONLY 2 CATCHERS – The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  6. ^ Durso, Joseph (November 28, 1972). "Durso, Joseph. "Mets Send Agee to the Astros for Pair; Yanks Trade Four to Get Graig Nettles," The New York Times, Tuesday, November 28, 1972. Retrieved October 24, 2020". The New York Times. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  7. ^ Ruddy, John (August 15, 2021). "Book tells the story of New London's John Ellis, whose baseball career was a prelude to his calling". The Day. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  8. ^ Keegan, Tom (July 19, 1994). "20 years later, no-hitter remains a thrill for Bosman". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  9. ^ Durso, Joseph. "Veeck Has Funds to Pay White Sox Price Today," The New York Times, Wednesday, December 10, 1975. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  10. ^ "The Texas Rangers Tuesday sought permission to give John... – UPI Archives". Upi.com. March 30, 1982. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  11. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Rudy Law to White Sox – The New York Times". The New York Times. March 31, 1982. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  12. ^ "The Day – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  13. ^ "WFAN Radiothon Is Friday; Items Being Auctioned To Benefit Connecticut Cancer Patients – CBS New York". Cbsnews.com. February 8, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  14. ^ "Connecticut Cancer Foundation | Helping Cancer Patients". Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  15. ^ "John Ellis". The Baseball Cube. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
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