Longtime Oriole Hendricks dead at 64

SI.com ^ | 22 December 2005 | AP

[MikefromOhio]

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Elrod Hendricks, who spent nearly four decades as a player and coach with the Baltimore Orioles, died Wednesday. He was 64.

Hendricks died at Baltimore-Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie, hospital spokeswoman Allison Eatough said. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Acting Lt. Will Bethea of the Anne Arundel County fire department said the department received a call at 8:17 p.m. that Hendricks was unconscious at a hotel near Baltimore-Washington International Airport. A fire department ambulance took him to the hospital.

Hendricks got most of the playing time at catcher for the Orioles on teams that went to three consecutive World Series from 1969-71, sharing duties with Andy Etchebarren.

Hendricks also played briefly for the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees during a 12-year major league career that lasted from 1968-79. He went 4-for-11 (.364) with a home run and four RBIs to help Baltimore defeat the Cincinnati Reds in the 1970 World Series.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Jeez, I'd better get my Christmas hat back on, this is turning into real Hot Stove League stuff here!

Less than 3 months till pitchers and catchers report ...

[speedy]

Heehee. Now you're talking!!! It happens every spring.

[jaime1959]

Two articles and some fan comment from WBAL. Ellie was a really good guy, well-loved around town and throughout baseball. If they have any sense whatsoever, the O's will retire his number.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-elrod22,1,2844533.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-connolly1222,1,915365.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines

http://wbal.com/stories/articlefiles/38590-WBAL%20listeners%20pay%20tribute%20to%20Elrod%20Hendricks%20Dec%2022%202005.mp3

[Mr. Buzzcut]

If you're an Oriole fan, as I am: less than 15 months till Spring Training 2007 ...!

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Great stuff...

I have burned in my mind an at bat Ellie had for the Syracuse Chiefs here against the Red Wings.

He did that little hitch with his front leg and knocked the ball onto Norton Street. And the crowd CHEERED!

[speedy]

Hey Buzz -- actually, I'm a lifelong Yankee fan, but I grew up in PA not far from the MD line and spent many a happy hour at old Memorial Stadium. I just always had a lot of respect for the Orioles organization (pre-Angelos) and frustrating as it was to play them in those years, as memories soften I am left with admiration for just how good they were. One of my best friends is an O's fan and he always tells me how grateful I should be for Angelos because he gives Steinbrenner serious competition for worst owner in baseball. Although, to be honest, there is a lot of competition for that honor!

If you're any kind of baseball fan, hard not to like guys like Ellie. Or for that matter Brooks, Boog or Cal. Or Stu Miller or Hal "Skinny" Brown. And I hope you guys don't trade Tejada, or if you do at least trade him to the National League!