Ralph Yeazell

Ralph Waldo Yeazell
(Tanbark; Tan)

• Bats unknown, Throws Left

• Born January 24, 1882 in California USA
• Died April 20, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Ralph Yeazell was a Californian minor league and well-regarded semi-pro pitcher. He pitched in one game in 1904 in the Pacific Coast League, but otherwise was only in semi-pro. His nick-name was "Tanbark" or "Tan".

A loose chronology:

• 1903: Pitched for the Fortunas, Blue Lake, and Eureka. Threw 3 games in one week at one point for Eureka, including a 13-inning effort.
• 1904: Pitched his only minor league game, on July 24th, for the Oakland Oaks. He apparently also pitched for a Nevada City team at one point, and also pitched for Arcata.
• 1905: Pitched for Napa, short stop for Flynn, and also played center field for the Carroll Reyes team of San Francisco. Assuming it's all one Yeazell.
• 1907: Pitched for Pinole Hercules team
• 1908: Was pitching for Napa, a good semi-pro team
• 1909: Still pitching for Napa

It is likely that he continued pitching into the 1910s.

At the time, there was a thin line between semi-pro ball and minor league ball, and some semi-pro leagues, like the Sacramento Valley League of the 1920s and 1930s, were equivalent in quality of play to many B rated leagues.