| Larry Elliot | |
|---|---|
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1938-03-05)March 5, 1938 (age 87) San Diego, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 19, 1962, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 2, 1966, for the New York Mets | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .236 |
| Home runs | 15 |
| Runs batted in | 56 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Lawrence Lee Elliot (born March 5, 1938) is an American former professionalbaseball player. Anoutfielder, he appeared in 157Major Leaguegames, all but 12 of them for theNew York Mets (1964;1966). The native ofSan Diego, California, attendedHerbert Hoover High School, alma mater ofBaseball Hall of FamerTed Williams; he threw and batted left-handed, stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighed 200 pounds (91 kg).
Elliot was signed by thePittsburgh Pirates as a 20-year-old out ofSan Diego City College, and spent four years in the Bucs'farm system before making his Major League debut with Pittsburgh in1962. As aminor leaguer, Elliot had flashedhome run power, hitting 16 homers in both 1958 and 1961, and 25 with the 1959Wilson Tobs of the Class BCarolina League.[1]
Per the baseball rules then in force, Major League clubs could keep 28 players on theirrosters for the first 30 days of the regular season, before cutting down to the 25-man active roster used until September 1. Elliot received the first of his two early-season trials for Pittsburgh in April 1962, and appeared in eight games, including one as the club's startingright fielder, and collecting threehits in tenat bats. In his eighth and final appearance, on May 3, hepinch hit forpitcherDiomedes Olivo and hit a home run off eventual 24-game-winnerJack Sanford of theSan Francisco Giants.[2] He then was sent down to theTriple-AColumbus Jets, where he hit 23 more home runs, butbatted only .235 in 134 games.[1] He followed a similar pattern in1963, making the Pirates out ofspring training, appearing sparingly (four games as a pinch hitter), and then being sent to Columbus at the cutdown; that season, he hit 26 homers for the Jets. On December 16, 1963, the Pirates sold Elliot's contract to the Mets.
Although Elliot spent part of 1964 with the Triple-ABuffalo Bisons, hitting eight homers in 42 games,[1] he spent most of the campaign in the Majors, getting into 80 games and starting 55 contests incenter field in relief ofJim Hickman. On August 11, he gained a measure of revenge against his old team when hedoubled and homered,drove in tworuns, and led the Mets to a 3–2 victory over the Pirates in a game shortened by rain.[3] Elliotbatted only .228 for the Mets, but hit nine homers in 256 at bats. He then played the entire1965 season in the minor leagues, but the Mets took some of the sting out of the demotion by loaning Elliot to his hometownSan Diego Padres of thePacific Coast League, the Triple-A affiliate of theCincinnati Reds.
He started 1966 with the Mets'Jacksonville Suns Triple-A club, batted a career-high .303 with 11 home runs in 73 games,[1] and was recalled to New York in July. Elliot continued his hot hitting during his early appearances, with a three-hit game (and four RBI) against theHouston Astros on July 18 pushing his batting average to .348.[4] But, although he started 53 games incorner outfield spots for the Mets through the end of season, his average eventually declined to .246. Elliot began1967 with Jacksonville; then, on May 10, the Mets traded him to theKansas City Athletics in what would be a significant trade for them, as they received in returnthird basemanEd Charles. Charles became a prominent member of the1969 "Miracle Mets" and would be identified with the Mets for many years. Elliot played three full seasons (1967–1969) at the Triple-A level before retiring.
In his 157 MLB games, Elliot had 103 hits, including 22 doubles, twotriples and 15 home runs.
· Baseball Almanac