James H Smith

Baseball's Greatest Players James H Smith

John Ellis signed with the Yankees when he was 17, just out of High School. In 1970, Topps Baseball Cards names him and his teammate, Thurman Munson, to its annual Rookie of the Year team. Ellis, called Moose at 6-foot, 2- inches carrying 225 pounds, played 13 years in the major leagues and was the first designated hitter in Cleveland Indi- ans history. In his first year with the Texas Rangers he was batting .419 in 11 games when he slid into second base and broke his left leg and ankle. Out for the season. He came back to play 290 more games, batting .285 in 1979 with 61 RBI and 12 homers. Retiring from baseball, he went on to his fortune in real estate, only to be stopped by cancer that had also taken his older brother and sister. He pledged that, if he survived, he would help others. The Connecticut Cancer Foundation, founded by John and his wife Jane in 1987, has benefitted countless children and families struck by the disease. Every year, major league baseball superstars head- line the foundation's annual fundraising dinner to carry on a generous tradition started by a kid who could swing a bat.