Eldred was born inSacramento, California, on July 26, 1892. He graduated fromSacramento High School in 1910.[1] When he was fully grown, Eldred stood 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) tall and weighed approximately 180 pounds (82 kg), earning him the nickname "Brick".[2]
TheSacramento Senators of the PCL purchased Eldred from the White Sox for $750 ($15,679 in current dollar terms) before the 1918 season.[16][17] He batted .264 for Sacramento in 1918[18] and batted .311 in 1919.[19] In May 1920,Bill Rodgers, the manager of the Senators, fined Eldred $25 ($390 in current dollar terms[20]) for using disrespectful language towards him and another $25 for not hustling on the field. Eldred refused to play in the next game and Rodgers suspended him indefinitely. Rodgers also accused Eldred of being out of shape.[21] A few days later, the Senators sold Eldred to theSeattle Indians of the PCL for $3,500 ($54,936 in current dollar terms).[22][23] The Indians also raised Eldred's salary and paid the $50 fine.[24]
Eldred recorded over 200hits in five seasons between 1920 and 1925. He had 231 hits in 1920[2] and batted .339, the third-best average in the PCL.[25] His average dropped to .319 in 1921, and the team cut his salary by $75 per month ($1,322 in current dollar terms).[26] Eldred batted .354 in 1922, the third-best in the league, with 260 hits.[2][27] He batted .353 with 262 hits during the 1923 season.[2][28] In 1924, Eldred batted .351 with 240 hits[2][29] and led the league with 71doubles.[30] He had 242 hits for the 1925 season.[2]
The Indians acquiredFuzzy Hufft in 1926, which led to a reduction in Eldred's playing time.[31][32] Eldred had been thecleanup hitter for Seattle, but they moved him out of the role in 1926, replacing him withMonk Sherlock.[33] He batted .340 in 1926 and .325 in 1927.[34] Eldred returned to Seattle for the 1928 season as a bench player.[35] At the end of April, Seattle sold him to theWichita Falls Spudders of theClass ATexas League[36] for $5,000 ($91,560 in current dollar terms) after he had clearedwaivers in the PCL.[37] He batted .356 in 91 games for Wichita Falls in 1928.[38]
Eldred became a bench player for Wichita Falls in 1929. He was sold to theMilwaukee Brewers of theClass AAAmerican Association in July following the acquisition ofLarry Bettencourt.[39] Milwaukee released Eldred before the 1930 season.[40] In May 1930, the Senators releasedWally Hood and signed Eldred.[41] In 79 games,[42] Eldred batted .369.[43] The Senators released Eldred before the 1931 season.[44]
In his career, Eldred played in 1,709 PCL games, finishing with a .332 batting average, 2,034 hits, 516 doubles, and 219 stolen bases.[2]
Eldred and his wife, Myrtle, married in 1914. They had a son, Richard. After he retired from baseball, he worked for theCalifornia Almond Growers Exchange.[1]
Eldred died in Sacramento on December 22, 1976.[1][45] He was inducted into thePCL Hall of Fame in 2003.[2]
^"Diamond Dust".Salt Lake Telegram. June 4, 1916. p. 11. RetrievedJanuary 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Veiock, Jack (February 21, 1917)."Daily Sport Budget".Journal Gazette. International News Service. p. 5. RetrievedJanuary 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Brick Eldred Gets Release by Solons".Appeal-Democrat. Marysville, California. February 13, 1931. p. 10. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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