Eldred was born in Sacramento, California, on July 26, 1892. He graduated from Sacramento High School in 1910.[1] When he was fully grown, Eldred stood 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) tall and weighed approximately 180 pounds (82 kg), earning him the nickname "Brick".[2]
The Sacramento Senators of the PCL purchased Eldred from the White Sox for $750 ($15,192 in current dollar terms) before the 1918 season.[16][17] He batted .264 for Sacramento in 1918[18] and batted .311 in 1919.[19] In May 1920, Bill Rodgers, the manager of the Senators, fined Eldred $25 ($380 in current dollar terms[20]) for using disrespectful language towards him and another $25 for not hustling on the field. Eldred refused to play in the next game and Rodgers suspended him indefinitely. Rodgers also accused Eldred of being out of shape.[21] A few days later, the Senators sold Eldred to the Seattle Indians of the PCL for $3,500 ($53,233 in current dollar terms).[22][23] The Indians also raised Eldred's salary and paid the $50 fine.[24]
Eldred recorded over 200 hits in five seasons between 1920 and 1925. He had 231 hits in 1920[2] and batted .339, the third-best average in the PCL.[25] His average dropped to .319 in 1921, and the team cut his salary by $75 per month ($1,281 in current dollar terms).[26] Eldred batted .354 in 1922, the third-best in the league, with 260 hits.[2][27] He batted .353 with 262 hits during the 1923 season.[2][28] In 1924, Eldred batted .351 with 240 hits[2][29] and led the league with 71 doubles.[30] He had 242 hits for the 1925 season.[2]
Later career
The Indians acquired Fuzzy Hufft in 1926, which led to a reduction in Eldred's playing time.[31][32] Eldred had been the cleanup hitter for Seattle, but they moved him out of the role in 1926, replacing him with Monk Sherlock.[33] He batted .340 in 1926 and .325 in 1927.[34] Eldred returned to Seattle for the 1928 season as a bench player.[35] At the end of April, Seattle sold him to the Wichita Falls Spudders of the Class ATexas League[36] for $5,000 ($88,721 in current dollar terms) after he had cleared waivers in the PCL.[37] He batted .356 in 91 games for Wichita Falls in 1928.[38]
Eldred became a bench player for Wichita Falls in 1929. He was sold to the Milwaukee Brewers of the Class AAAmerican Association in July following the acquisition of Larry Bettencourt.[39] Milwaukee released Eldred before the 1930 season.[40] In May 1930, the Senators released Wally Hood and signed Eldred.[41] In 79 games,[42] Eldred batted .369.[43] The Senators released Eldred before the 1931 season.[44]
In his career, Eldred played in 1,709 PCL games, finishing with a .332 batting average, 2,034 hits, 516 doubles, and 219 stolen bases.[2]
Personal life
Eldred and his wife, Myrtle, married in 1914. They had a son, Richard. After he retired from baseball, he worked for the California Almond Growers Exchange.[1]
Eldred died in Sacramento on December 22, 1976.[1][45] He was inducted into the PCL Hall of Fame in 2003.[2]
References
^ abcO'Connor, Alan (2007). Gold on the Diamond: Sacramento's Great Baseball Players, 1886 to 1976. Big Tomato Press. pp. 55–57. ISBN9780979123306.
^"Diamond Dust". Salt Lake Telegram. June 4, 1916. p. 11. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Veiock, Jack (February 21, 1917). "Daily Sport Budget". Journal Gazette. International News Service. p. 5. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Brick Eldred Gets Release by Solons". Appeal-Democrat. Marysville, California. February 13, 1931. p. 10. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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