Kid Elberfeld

Norman Arthur Elberfeld
(The Tabasco Kid)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 7", Weight 158 lb.

• Debut May 30, 1898
• Final Game September 24, 1914
• Born April 13, 1875 in Pomeroy, OH USA
• Died January 13, 1944 in Chattanooga, TN USA

BR page

Biographical Information

" ... one of the greatest managers in Southern Association history ... Elberfeld ... was noted throughout his long baseball career for his brainy and fiery play." - from a United Press report shortly before his death in 1944

Infielder Kid Elberfeld played 14 seasons in the big leagues, mostly with the new American League, and managed the New York Highlanders for 98 games in 1908. He was proficient at the art of getting hit by the pitch, ranking # 15 on the all-time list (through 2010). He also played and managed many years in the minors.

Although he stood only 5' 7" tall, he was famous for his temper.

Books about Casey Stengel say that when Elberfeld was a veteran and Stengel was a young player, the two became close friends. Elberfeld gave Stengel useful information on how to be a successful ballplayer.

His obituary in the New York Times states that he bought an orchard near Chattanooga, TN early in his professional career, and lived there until he died. His children were all athletically talented, with his girls forming a basketball team called the "Elberfeld Girls" which toured the South for many years.

One of his relatives has created the Kid Elberfeld website.

Preceded by Clark Griffith

New York Yankees Manager 1908

Succeeded by George Stallings

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1908	New York Highlanders	American League	27-71	8th	New York Highlanders		replaced Clark Griffith (24-32) on June 25
1913	Chattanooga Lookouts	Southern Association	70-64	4th	--	none
1915	Chattanooga Lookouts	Southern Association	37-27	6th	--	none	replaced Moose McCormick (36-53) on July 20
1916	Chattanooga Lookouts	Southern Association			--	--	replaced by Pop Kitchens
1917	Chattanooga Lookouts	Southern Association	76-74	6th	--	none
1918	Little Rock Travelers	Southern Association	41-28	2nd	--		League suspended operations on June 28
1919	Little Rock Travelers	Southern Association	74-56	2nd	--	none
1920	Little Rock Travelers	Southern Association	88-59	1st	--	none League Champs
1921	Little Rock Travelers	Southern Association	74-77	4th	--	none
1922	Little Rock Travelers	Southern Association	86-67	4th	--	none
1923	Little Rock Travelers	Southern Association	53-92	8th	--	none
1924	Little Rock Travelers	Southern Association	51-101	8th	--	none
1925	Mobile Bears	Southern Association	73-78	5th	--	none
1926	Chattanooga Lookouts	Southern Association	55-94	6th	--	none
1930	Springfield Midgets	Western Association	64-73	5th	St. Louis Browns
1936	Fulton Eagles	KITTY League	63-56	5th	none

Records Held

• Hits, most in a game with all of team's hits, 4, 8/1/03 (tied)

Related Sites

• Kid Elberfeld at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Manager page
• Baseball History Daily article on Kid Elberfeld