John Ellis, who performed with the Yankees from 1969-1972, died Tuesday at 73 after struggling a recurrence of most cancers.
The primary baseman and catcher, who was from New London, Conn., additionally performed with the Indians and Rangers throughout his 13-year profession that started in 1969 and resulted in 1981. In his later life, Ellis was greatest identified for his charitable works within the battle towards most cancers.
The Yankees, who have been impressed with Ellis’ right-handed energy bat, signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1969, and he was known as up from the Bombers at age 20. He made a right away affect in his first recreation on Could 17, hitting an inside-the-park residence run towards the Angels into left-center area, the unique “Demise Valley” on the previous Yankee Stadium.
“I keep in mind when he hit his inside-the-park residence run,” Ron Blomberg, Ellis’ teammate from 1969-72, instructed the Hartford Courant. “Being 6-3, weighing 225 kilos, being a linebacker [in high school] and being a moose, you could possibly see him operating. He was an amazing athlete. He at all times had tons of followers are available from New London and Mystic and Groton.
“He was the Connecticut brute. He was an amazing athlete, he was an amazing teammate, he was nice as a result of each time we acquired right into a battle on the sphere, he was the primary one concerned in it.”
Ellis, who was a Yankee from 1969-1973, performed 883 video games within the huge leagues and had a profession common of .262 with 69 homers and 391 RBIs. He was the backup for Thurman Munson and first baseman Ron Blomburg throughout his time in The Bronx.
After the 1972 season, Ellis was a part of a commerce that introduced third baseman Graig Nettles, a key contributor to the 1977-1978 Yankees champion groups, to New York. In April 1973, after Blomberg turned the primary designated hitter in baseball historical past Ellis turned the primary DH for Cleveland.
Ellis, who had a profitable profession in actual property and was an avid fisherman after his baseball profession, was recognized In 1986 with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a illness that additionally claimed the lives of his brother, sister and sister-in-law.
Based on the Courant, Ellis typically instructed the story of his mendacity in a hospital mattress: “I stated to God, ‘you let me stay and I’ll assist everyone I can.’”
Ellis beat the illness and, in 1987 together with his spouse Jane based the Connecticut Sports activities Basis towards Most cancers, now often called the Connecticut Most cancers Basis.
The CCF has raised greater than $9 million or most cancers analysis and to help households victimized by most cancers, in keeping with the Courant. The Ellis’ annual banquet, most just lately at Mohegan Solar, has grown yr after yr and has drawn many baseball stars to talk, beginning with Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford.
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