Posted on 04/16/2006 8:26:01 AM PDT by jamesmorisette
Good morning and Happy Easter,
I am writing to you today because over the course of the past few weeks I have heard, read and have become upset by stories about 37 year Baltimore Oriole bullpen coach Elrod "Ellie" Hendricks and how Oriole managment seems to have mis-handled Ellie's situation both prior to his mild stroke and after his massive and fatal heart attack the night before his birthday last December. I as well as many other fans in Baltimore and abroad were very upset at the fact that the Orioles did not retire Ellie's number on opening day.
Ellie gave 37 years of his life to the Orioles, to Baltimore, to St. Thomas and many other Carribean islands and gave countless time and hours to charity. While his offensive playing statistics were not brilliant his defensive skills were. And his positive influence on any one he encountered and his electric smile reached far beyond the Camden Yards. Ellie was the face of the Orioles and the last remaining piece of the puzzle that was "The Oriole Way." And I as well as many others believes he deserves better.
As a result, I was hoping you could support put a good word out to others in Baltimore to somehow to support a petition calling for the Orioles managment to do the right thing and immortalize Ellie by retiring his number.
This petition has gained heavy steam since its launch one week ago today. It has drawn more than 225 signatures, the attention of several local radio stations, as well as a Baltimore Examiner reporter named Ron Cassie rcassie@examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/By_State-a77809~Fans_petition_Orioles_to_retire_bullpen_coach_Hendricks__jersey.html
Several Baltimore locations like Santoni's, Lexington Market, Bop Pizza, and La Dolce Vita have put up flyers (attached) in support of Ellie as well.
I think it would be awesome if HFS could support Ellie and disseminate word of this petition and flyer. The petition is located at:
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/Professional_Baseball
I thank you for your time, hope you will be willing to help, and God may Bless you and yours this Easter. .
Very Respectfully,
James M. Morisette
Details of the controversy surrounding Ellie can be found by reading the following articles:
"Elrod's widow can't forget: 'Fact is they broke his heart' by John Eisenberg
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.eisenberg04apr04,0,7275949.column?coll=bal-sports-baseball
"A Character with Class, Elrod Never Failed the fans" by Dan Connolly
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/baseball/marlins/bal-connolly1222,0,6173425.story?coll=sfla-sports-marlins
"O's should do the right thing, retire Hendricks' number" by John Eisenberg
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.eisenberg31mar31,0,7669162.column?coll=bal-sports-headlines
The Elrod "Ellie" Hendricks Debacle by James Morisette http://blogs.foxsports.com/James_M_Morisete/2006/04/15/The_Elrod_Ellie_Hendricks_Debacle
This hasn't been zotted yet?
IBTZ!
Why should this be zotted?
If you're not from Baltimore, move along.
Mr. Hendricks was a fine man, well loved in Baltimore. He earned respect.
Rest in peace, Elrod Hendricks.
I'm wondering why he was Baltimore's bullpen coach, though. I think he was an outfielder.
Joining and posting a vanity the same day is somewhat bad form.
I believe he was a catcher.
I always get Ellie Hendricks mixed up with another guy on that 1976 team -- outfielder Elliott Maddox.
Very few numbers are retired, in any sport, so I wouldn't get my hopes up here.
In eleven seasons 62 HR, career .220 BA, and .990 fielding percentage.
Not good.
I wrote nothing about signing any petition, did I?
Only mentioned this thread should not be zotted.
If this guy, Morisette, wants to look for support, why do you have a problem with it.
I am surprised at the lack of respect for a fine man who has passed away. Who cares what his stats were? I couldn't care less whether the O's retire his number either.
He is missed.
I leave it to Oriole fans and the Oriole organization to decide how they should honor Oriole players after they have retired or passed away. I do know that for the Red Sox, "Mr. Red Sox" is Johnny Pesky and his number has not been retired while Bobby Doerr, Joe Cronin, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, and Carlton Fisk have had their numbers retired.
The Red Sox standard for retired uniform numbers is:
(1)Ten years on the Red Sox player roster, and
(2)Election to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Pesky (who wore 6) fails on both counts. He missed three full seasons to World War II after his rookie 1942 season and was traded to Detroit in mid-1952. He was a good player but not as good as Phil Rizzuto, the current bottom-of-the-barrel HOF shortstop.
If you ask me, better arguments could be made for Lefty Grove (10) and Jimmie Foxx (3), not just Hall of Famers, but top-shelf. Both played more seasons than Pesky in a Boston uniform, yet they both fall short of the 10-year standard.
I doubt any team can create a standard that would keep all its fans happy.
"As a Red Sox fan who lives in the Baltimore area, I have nothing but respect for Ellie Hendricks. He was a class act..."
Yes. Thank you.
At the time, Yaz was my 2nd favorite player (Of course, Brooks Robinson was the best. :-))
In my humble opinion, Ted Williams was the best player to ever play the game.
If the Orioles had to retire a jersey just because a guy died, players would have numbers like 39248 by now.How many were with the same organization for almost 40 years, though? In Cleveland, there'd be no question whatsover.
Baltimore's had bad luck with classless team ownership in the past, though Biscotti's takeover of the Ravens may have changed that.
-Eric
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