Ellis Valentine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ellis Valentine |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Right fielder | |||
| Born: July 30, 1954 Helena, Arkansas, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| September 3, 1975, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 2, 1985, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .278 | ||
| Home runs | 123 | ||
| Runs batted in | 474 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
Ellis Clarence Valentine (born July 30, 1954) is an American former Major League Baseball player. He played as a right fielder. Ellis was known for having one of the best throwing arms in baseball history. His former manager, Felipe Alou, once said that Ellis Valentine's arm was as good as it gets.
Contents
Ellis Valentine's Baseball Journey
Starting with the Montreal Expos
Ellis Valentine played both football and baseball in high school. The Montreal Expos picked him in the 1972 baseball draft. He was the first professional athlete to be signed from his high school.
Ellis quickly became one of the Expos' top young players. He played well in the minor leagues, hitting .289 with 27 home runs. He also had 195 runs batted in (RBIs) over four seasons. This earned him a chance to play for the Montreal Expos in September 1975. In one of his first games, he hit his first major league home run. He finished the 1975 season with a strong .364 batting average.
For the 1976 season, the Expos moved their star player, Gary Carter, to a different position. This made room for Ellis Valentine to play right field regularly. After a slow start, Ellis was sent to a minor league team for more practice. He returned to the Expos in July and improved his hitting.
Teaming Up with Cromartie and Dawson
On April 15, 1977, Ellis Valentine hit the first home run ever at Olympic Stadium, the Expos' new home. He also hit two inside-the-park home runs that season.
Ellis joined two other young and talented outfielders, Andre Dawson and Warren Cromartie, in 1977. These three players were known for their youth, speed, and power. They quickly became famous in the baseball world. Ellis was the first of the three to become an All-Star. He was the only Expos player chosen for the 1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Ellis was already known for his amazing throwing arm. Before the All-Star game, he even had a throwing contest with other great outfielders. That season, he led his team with a .293 batting average. He also hit 25 home runs and had 76 RBIs.
In 1978, Ellis, Cromartie, and Dawson played even better. Ellis led all major league outfielders with 25 outfield assists. An outfield assist is when a fielder throws the ball to help get a runner out. For his great defense, Ellis won a Gold Glove Award. This award goes to the best defensive players in baseball. Cromartie and Dawson also had many assists, making the Expos' outfield one of the best in baseball.
At the plate, Ellis and Dawson both hit 25 home runs. Ellis also led the team with 76 RBIs.
A Challenging Season
The 1979 season was tough for Ellis Valentine at the start. In an April game, he disagreed with an umpire's call. He threw his batting helmet and then bumped the umpire. Because of this, Ellis was suspended for three games and fined $500.
However, the suspension seemed to help him focus. When he returned, he started hitting much better. In his first game back, he hit a three-run pinch hit home run to help the Expos win. He continued to play well, driving in many runs. In one doubleheader, he set a team record by driving in seven runs. The Expos had a great season in 1979, winning 95 games. Ellis finished the year with a .276 batting average, 21 home runs, and a career-high 82 RBIs.
Injury and Recovery
On May 30, 1980, Ellis Valentine was hit in the face by a pitch. His cheekbone was badly broken, and he had to miss over a month of games. At the time, he was hitting almost .300 and leading his team in RBIs.
When Ellis returned to play in July, he started wearing a special face mask on his helmet. This was to protect his face from future injuries. Other players even started wearing similar masks because of him. He continued to play well, but injuries to his hip and hand later in the season limited his playing time. The Expos were in a close race for their division title but lost it on the second-to-last day of the season.
Moving to the New York Mets
Ellis Valentine had a slow start in 1981 and was injured again. He was traded to the New York Mets for other players. His first season with the Mets was not easy.
In 1982, the Mets hoped for a better season. Ellis Valentine struggled at the beginning, going 31 games without an RBI. Later in the season, he played better, hitting seven home runs and driving in 33 runs. However, he expressed his frustration with the team to reporters. The Mets' management tried to trade him, but they couldn't find a team to take him, even though he finished the season hitting well.
Playing for the California Angels
After the 1982 season, Ellis Valentine became a free agent. He signed with the California Angels in January 1983. He strained his Achilles tendon during spring training, which delayed his start with the team. He played in 86 games for the Angels, hitting .240 with thirteen home runs and 43 RBIs. He signed a new contract with the Angels, but a heel injury kept him from playing at all in 1984. He was released by the team at the end of that season.
Final Season with the Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers signed Ellis Valentine to a minor league contract in July 1985. He played well for their Triple-A team, hitting .314 with ten home runs. He joined the Rangers in September for his final major league games. He was not offered a contract for the next season and decided to retire from baseball.
Career Stats
| Games | PA | AB | Runs | Hits | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | Avg. | OBP | Slg. | OPS | Fld% | OA |
| 894 | 3392 | 3166 | 380 | 881 | 169 | 15 | 123 | 474 | 59 | 180 | 462 | .278 | .315 | .458 | .773 | .972 | 85 |
Ellis Valentine also appeared on an episode of the TV show Fantasy Island in 1978. In the episode, he was one of the baseball players that a character, who dreamed of being a pitcher, struck out.
Life After Baseball
After retiring from baseball, Ellis Valentine worked at a car rental company. In 1995, he managed a baseball team in a short-lived league called the Golden State League. His time there lasted only a week before the league closed down.
After his baseball career, Ellis Valentine dedicated himself to helping others. He became a counselor, guiding people through challenges and supporting them in their lives. He has special training in behavioral health and counseling.
Today, Ellis Valentine lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He works as a counselor at a local church and is part of the Texas Rangers Alumni Association. He also helped start PastPros, a website where sports fans can buy items directly from retired athletes. In 2014, Valentine founded RAFT Recovery Inc., a non-profit organization. This group coaches people who are struggling and also provides a lawn service for disabled seniors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
