Claude Elliott

Claude Judson Elliott
(Chaucer or Old Pardee)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.

• Debut April 16, 1904
• Final Game October 7, 1905
• Born November 17, 1876 in Pardeeville, WI USA
• Died June 21, 1923 in Pardeeville, WI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Claude Elliott, famed as perhaps the first pitcher intended as a relief pitcher, was also famous as a teammate of Moonlight Graham with the New York Giants in 1905. Claude was the third and final out in the 9th inning when Graham was on deck in the only game that Graham played in the majors. This story of Moonlight Graham was immortalized in the book, Shoeless Joe, which became the basis for the movie, Field of Dreams.

Elliott had made a name for himself in 1901 when he went 26-11 in the Three-I League, leading that league in strikeouts and ERA.

Elliott had made his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 1904, pitching decently and posting a 3-1 record, when he was sold in mid-season to the Giants. He appeared in only three more games that season. In 1905, John McGraw used him as his mop-up man, giving Elliott only two starts, both late in the season, after the pennant had been clinched, but having him finish eight games. Elliott posted six saves in his ten appearances, but all of these were in blowout wins, when McGraw chose to rest his more important pitchers. When he needed a save in a more crucial situation, McGraw did not turn to Elliott but to whichever starter was available that day. In April 1906, Elliott was traded to the Louisville Colonels of the minor league American Association in return for Cecil Ferguson, who was used in a similar role by the Giants.

A biography of Elliott [1] says that he had a ten-year professional career, pitching at Detroit, Milwaukee and Indianapolis as well as the other teams mentioned above, and in the Wisconsin State League, the "Michigan League" and (for one game) the 1899 Western Association.

Another source says he played at Watertown in 1899 as a teammate of Red Kleinow.

He is also mentioned in the book Relief Pitcher: Baseball's New Hero by John Thorn.

Elliott had several nicknames. In addition to "Chaucer" and "Old Pardee", he was called "Big He" in the minors, apparently referring to a handsome, masculine appearance.

He was called "Old Pardee", of course, because he came from a place in Wisconsin called Pardeeville. It is said that he was "an avid curler" there, enjoying the sport of curling.

After his playing days he umpired in the minors. He died in 1923 at the age of 46 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a malady that would later become known as "Lou Gehrig's disease".

Notable Achievements

• NL Saves Leader (1905)
• Won a World Series with the New York Giants in 1905 (he did not play in the World Series)