1976 Topps #383 - John Ellis

• John Ellis was a catcher/first baseman from 1969-1981. Ellis was signed by the New York Yankees in 1966. He played in the minors from 1967-1969 and was promoted to the Yankees after batting .333 with 8 HR in 38 games at AAA Syracuse. John batted .290 in 22 games for the Yankees in 1969.

• The Yankees had Thurman Munson at catcher and Danny Cater at first base in 1970. Both of them hit over .300 so there wasn't much room for Ellis. John played in 78 games and batted .248 with 7 HR in 226 at bats. In 1971 Ellis split time with Cater at first base and batted .244 in 83 games.

• The Yankees traded Cater after the 1971 season but they had Ron Blomberg to play first in '72. Ellis played in 52 games in 1972 and batted .294. After the 1972 season John was traded to the Cleveland Indians as part of the big trade that sent Graig Nettles to the Yankees.

• Ellis got a chance to play every day in Cleveland and had his two best years in 1973 and 1974. John batted .270 with 14 HR and 68 RBI in 1973. In 1974 he batted .285 with 10 HR and 64 RBI. Ellis lost some playing time in 1975 when the Indians promoted Alan Ashby. John batted .230 with 7 HR in 92 games in '75. After the 1975 season Ellis was traded to the Texas Rangers for Ron Pruitt and Stan Thomas.

• John was off to a great start in 1976 (.419 in 11 games) but he was injured and didn't play after May 9. For the rest of his career Ellis was a part-time C/1B and DH. John batted .235 in 49 games in 1977 and .245 in 34 games in 1978.

• In 1979 Ellis played in over 100 games for the last time. He batted .285 with 12 HR and 61 RBI in 111 games (62 DH, 30 1B, 7 C). John was mostly a pinch hitter / DH in 1980 and batted .236 in 73 games. Ellis had a rough year in 1981 -- he batted .136 in 23 games. Ellis was released by the Rangers during spring training in 1982 and retired.

• In the mid-1970s John joined the Spalding Sporting Goods Advisory Staff and had a signature catcher's mitt sold in retail stores. Before the 1977 season John opened a real estate firm. In 1987 he founded the Connecticut Sports Foundation Against Cancer.

• Liked to face: Bill Lee (.438 in 32 AB); Roger  Moret (.421 in 19 AB); Ken Brett (.375 in 24 AB)
• Hated to face: Jim Palmer (.056 in 36 AB); Steve Stone (.000 in 12 AB); Paul Splittorff (.031 in 32 AB)