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Brick Eldred
Brick in Seattle, 1920s
Outfielder
Born: (1892-07-26)July 26, 1892
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Died: December 22, 1976(1976-12-22) (aged 84)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Teams
Member of the Pacific Coast League
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction2003

Ross C. "Brick" Eldred (July 26, 1892 – December 22, 1976) was an American professional baseball outfielder. He played for the Salt Lake City Bees, the Sacramento Senators, and the Seattle Indians of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) from 1916 to 1930. He is a member of the PCL Hall of Fame.

Early life and career

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Eldred was born in Sacramento, California, on July 26, 1892. He graduated from Sacramento High School in 1910.[1] When he was fully grown, Eldred stood 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) tall and weighed approximately 180 pounds (82 kg), earning him the nickname "Brick".[2]

Professional career

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Early career

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After playing semi-professional baseball, Eldred signed with the Salt Lake City Bees of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) after the 1915 season.[3] He made the team for the 1916 season as a utility player.[4] With Salt Lake City unable to get Eldred playing time,[5] they traded him to the Seattle Giants of the Northwestern League in June.[6] Eldred had a .332 batting average for Seattle in 1932.[7]

The Giants sold Eldred to the Chicago White Sox of the American League.[8] In 1917, Eldred reported to spring training with the White Sox and competed to become the starting right fielder against Nemo Leibold, Eddie Murphy, Jack Fournier, and Shano Collins.[9] The White Sox optioned Eldred to the Newark Bears of the International League.[10] However, Danny Shay, the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association, claimed that he had bought Eldred from Seattle, and appealed to the National Baseball Commission.[11] The Commission awarded Eldred to Newark.[12] He batted .269 with Newark during the 1917 season,[13] and the White Sox recalled him in August.[14] He did not play for the White Sox, and Eldred got into a salary dispute with the team after they declined to pay him for the final month of the season. Eldred petitioned Garry Herrmann, the head of the National Commission, to gain his release from the White Sox organization.[15]

Sacramento and Seattle

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The Sacramento Senators of the PCL purchased Eldred from the White Sox for $750 ($15,192 in current dollar terms) before the 1918 season.[16][17] He batted .264 for Sacramento in 1918[18] and batted .311 in 1919.[19] In May 1920, Bill Rodgers, the manager of the Senators, fined Eldred $25 ($380 in current dollar terms[20]) for using disrespectful language towards him and another $25 for not hustling on the field. Eldred refused to play in the next game and Rodgers suspended him indefinitely. Rodgers also accused Eldred of being out of shape.[21] A few days later, the Senators sold Eldred to the Seattle Indians of the PCL for $3,500 ($53,233 in current dollar terms).[22][23] The Indians also raised Eldred's salary and paid the $50 fine.[24]

Eldred recorded over 200 hits in five seasons between 1920 and 1925. He had 231 hits in 1920[2] and batted .339, the third-best average in the PCL.[25] His average dropped to .319 in 1921, and the team cut his salary by $75 per month ($1,281 in current dollar terms).[26] Eldred batted .354 in 1922, the third-best in the league, with 260 hits.[2][27] He batted .353 with 262 hits during the 1923 season.[2][28] In 1924, Eldred batted .351 with 240 hits[2][29] and led the league with 71 doubles.[30] He had 242 hits for the 1925 season.[2]

Later career

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The Indians acquired Fuzzy Hufft in 1926, which led to a reduction in Eldred's playing time.[31][32] Eldred had been the cleanup hitter for Seattle, but they moved him out of the role in 1926, replacing him with Monk Sherlock.[33] He batted .340 in 1926 and .325 in 1927.[34] Eldred returned to Seattle for the 1928 season as a bench player.[35] At the end of April, Seattle sold him to the Wichita Falls Spudders of the Class A Texas League[36] for $5,000 ($88,721 in current dollar terms) after he had cleared waivers in the PCL.[37] He batted .356 in 91 games for Wichita Falls in 1928.[38]

Eldred became a bench player for Wichita Falls in 1929. He was sold to the Milwaukee Brewers of the Class AA American Association in July following the acquisition of Larry Bettencourt.[39] Milwaukee released Eldred before the 1930 season.[40] In May 1930, the Senators released Wally Hood and signed Eldred.[41] In 79 games,[42] Eldred batted .369.[43] The Senators released Eldred before the 1931 season.[44]

In his career, Eldred played in 1,709 PCL games, finishing with a .332 batting average, 2,034 hits, 516 doubles, and 219 stolen bases.[2]

Personal life

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Eldred and his wife, Myrtle, married in 1914. They had a son, Richard. After he retired from baseball, he worked for the California Almond Growers Exchange.[1]

Eldred died in Sacramento on December 22, 1976.[1][45] He was inducted into the PCL Hall of Fame in 2003.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c O'Connor, Alan (2007). Gold on the Diamond: Sacramento's Great Baseball Players, 1886 to 1976. Big Tomato Press. pp. 55–57. ISBN 9780979123306.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h McDermott, Mark (May 31, 2015). "Area baseball beat: After Solons traded him, Ross Eldred soared in Seattle". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  3. ^ ""Brick" Eldred Is Signed By Salt Lake". The Sacramento Bee. November 1, 1915. p. 10. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Salt Lake Club Hard After the Highest Honors: Players Determined That Championship Must Be Captured". The Salt Lake Herald-Republican. Salt Lake City, Utah. April 2, 1916. p. 30. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Negotiate to Send Eldred to the Waco Texas League Team". The Sacramento Bee. May 20, 1916. p. 14. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Diamond Dust". Salt Lake Telegram. June 4, 1916. p. 11. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Veiock, Jack (February 21, 1917). "Daily Sport Budget". Journal Gazette. International News Service. p. 5. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ ""Brick" Eldred Sold To The White Sox". The Butte Miner. August 8, 1916. p. 8. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Peri, John J. (February 24, 1917). "Eldred Has Hard Job Ahead To Break Into Sox Team". The Sacramento Bee. p. 10. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Brick Eldred Turned Over to Newark Club". The Sacramento Bee. April 16, 1917. p. 13. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Shay After Brick Eldred". The Oregon Daily Journal. United Press. April 13, 1917. p. 12. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Ross Eldred Sold To Newark Club". The Tacoma Daily Ledger. April 27, 1917. p. 7. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Runyon, Damon (December 6, 1917). "Hot Stove League". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 16. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Eldred Recalled By Chicago Sox". Spokane Chronicle. August 22, 1917. p. 16. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Eldred Minus Month's Pay From White Sox Owner". The Sacramento Bee. October 20, 1917. p. 10. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Senators Get Brick Eldred From Chicago". The Sacramento Star. March 14, 1918. p. 6. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Hickey, Rudy (March 23, 1918). "Fortune Smiles On Rodgers In Filling Ranks Of Senators". The Sacramento Bee. p. 12. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Hickey, Rudy (March 1, 1919). "Last Year's Records Show Yippers Strong With Bats". The Sacramento Bee. p. 10. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Harry Wolter Fifth Among Batters In Coast League". The Sacramento Bee. November 22, 1919. p. 36. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  21. ^ ""Brick" Eldred Suspended And Fined By Rodgers". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. May 11, 1920. pp. 1, 10. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Seattle Buys Brick Eldred". The Oregon Daily Journal. May 15, 1920. p. 8. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Hickey, Rudy (May 17, 1920). "Eldred Sold For $3,500; Oaks Open Here To-morrow". The Sacramento Bee. p. 14. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Hickey, Rudy (May 25, 1920). "Outfielder Sought By Senators Bought By Seattle". The Sacramento Bee. p. 16. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Hack Miller, Oakland Slugger Finished At League Leader's Heels". Oakland Tribune. January 9, 1921. p. 27. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Peri, John J. (March 7, 1922). "Sperry Flours Open New Race On Tracy Field". Stockton Daily Evening Record. p. 12. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Brick Eldred Signs Up With Raniers". Vancouver Daily World. February 12, 1923. p. 10. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Strand, King Swatter". The Los Angeles Times. October 17, 1923. p. 47. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Seattle Loaded With Raft Of Players". The Modesto Bee. March 31, 1925. p. 10. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Duffy Lewis Is Batting Champion". The Whittier News. United Press. December 13, 1924. p. 4. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Hufft and Sherlock Keeping Eldred and Caveney on Bench". The Seattle Star. April 23, 1926. p. 24. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ Cronin, R.A. (April 27, 1926). "Hufft Rare 'Find' For Boss Killefer". Daily News. p. 19. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Sherlock in New Role". The Seattle Star. June 12, 1926. p. 9. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Here Are Rosters Of Eight Coast League Clubs". The Los Angeles Times. April 1, 1928. p. 19. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Murphy, Eddie (April 2, 1928). "Oaks Favorites Although Mound Staff Appears Shaky". Oakland Tribune. p. 19. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Seattle Indians Changed: Eldred Sent To Wichita Falls". The Sacramento Bee. Associated Press. April 30, 1928. p. 20. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Hickey, Rudy (May 3, 1928). "Southpaw Is Huring Way Into Majors". The Sacramento Bee. p. 21. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "1928 Wichita Falls Spudders Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  39. ^ "Brick Eldred Is With Milwaukee". The Seattle Star. July 27, 1929. p. 6. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ Hickey, Rudy (March 12, 1930). "Henry Steinbacker May Prove To Be Excellent Prospect For Senators". The Sacramento Bee. p. 26. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ Hickey, Rudy (May 24, 1930). ""Wally" Hood Released: "Brick" Eldred May Be Signed". The Sacramento Bee. p. 35. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "Sheely Leads Coast League Sluggers". The Sacramento Bee. October 21, 1930. p. 24. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "Cast-Offs Outhit Seattle Replacements". Hartford Courant. Associated Press. December 29, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "Brick Eldred Gets Release by Solons". Appeal-Democrat. Marysville, California. February 13, 1931. p. 10. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ "Funeral Services Are Tomorrow For 'Brick' Eldred". The Sacramento Bee. December 23, 1976. p. 29. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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