The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-20
Kid EIberfelds Days
As Player Are Over
Nationals Peppery Infielder Under Care of Ply
sicians and Asks for Unconditional Release.
Hopes to Get Minor League Berth
By WILLIAM PEET.

Norman Elberfeld, the Nationals pep
perry little infelder. will play no base
ball next summer. In fact, it looks as II
the Kids playing days were over, and
if he can obtain his release from the
Washington club he hopes to land job
as manager with some minor league
team.
Shortly after the season closed this fall
EIberfeld moved his family back to his
old home in Tennessee, and in letter.
which was received yesterday. the Kid
reveals 10 the writer a number of facts
heretofore unknown by the majority of
fans in the District
ElberfeId states that he injured his hip
last July, and played to help Jim Nc
Aleer out of a hole during the remainder
of the season. The Kid was under the
care of a physician at the time, who ad-
vised complete rest.
Il suffered intense pain every time
tried to run writes the Kid, but Nc
Aleer said he needed me in the lineup,
and now l am paying the penalty, as
am still under a doctors care, and he
informs me that I cannot play ball next
summer. and that I will be lucky II
ever play again.
In addition TO an injured hip, it will be
remembered, that about that time the
Kid sprained his ankle, which further
handicapped him, and only his indomi-
table nerve and pluck carried him
through.
The Kid has written to President Noyes
for his release, and is looking around
for a berth as a bench manager with
some minor league club, which he says
is his only salvation. as he figures that
his days as a ball player are over.
Elberfield played here during the past
two seasons and was one of the most
popular mer on the club. The fair
minded fans in Washington always ap-
prcciated Kid EIberfeld's work He was
in the game every minute and probably
helped the young pitchers more than
any other member of the team.
The passing OF Kid Elberfeld from the
big show will be deeply regretted by all
who have followed baseball. His career
has been a Checkered one. A gamer ball
player never wore spikes and how he
has escaped being seriously injured will
forever remain a mystery.
No matter who the pitcher. or how
much speed ne possessed. nobody has
ever been able to make Elberfeld step
back from the plate. He has been hit
by pitched balls in probably every part
OF his anatomy.
During the training days in Atlanta
last March. Walter johnson remarked
one day: It's a wonder Kid Elberfeld
don't get killed I was pretty wild dur
ing practice this morning. and the Kid
kept yelling at me: Put something on the
ball Walter; lots of smoke At least
half a dozen wild pitches breezed by his
head missing him nv only a fraction of
an inch. The Kid never flinched, and
breathed a sigh of relief when McAleer
took me out of the box"
The art of blocking off runners at sec
ond and third was second nature to Ell
berfeld. He never budged an inch from
the bag. and if the ball got to him before
the runner the man was usually out as
Elberfeld would put it on him as both
went down in a cloud of dust.
Out at National Park one day. when
Boston was playing here in 1910. Jake
Stahl. the Red SOx's big first basemar.
crashed into the Kid and knocked him
almost five feet into the air. A little
side-stepping would have saved ugly
bruises, but the Kid never gave ground
o anybody. 1t isn't his nature.
Whether or not the Washington club
will grant Elberfelds request for his I'M
conditional release will likely not be de-
cided until Manager Griffith gets here in
a couple of weeks.