News Article
Dan Ingellis, who authored “Deferred Glory: Heroes of the Negro Baseball Leagues,” will have a book signing on June 27 at Leidy’s Inn
By Joe D’Amodio | damodio@siadvance.com
Staten Island Sorts Hall of fame Board Member Dan Ingellis, who authored “Deferred Glory: Heroes of the Negro Baseball Leagues,” will hold a book signing for his first book on Sunday, June 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Leidy’s Shore Inn, located at 748 Richmond Terrace. Ingellis is a 74-year-old New Springville resident whose book was inspired by his late friend Andy Mele, the Advance’s Memories Columnist for a decade until his passing last summer. For years, Ingellis used to do research for Mele’s books.
The book is currently being sold on Amazon.com for $15.99 for the paperback and $9.99 for the Kindle edition. According to Amazon, “Deferred Glory: Heroes of the Negro Baseball Leagues” is about the lives, struggles and desire of negroes to one day become professional baseball players in the Major Leagues. During this period of their lives, these players while playing in the Negro League endured tough traveling to ballparks in cities both in the South and North in order to play baseball. They suffered through segregation mostly in the South both on and off the field. These men withstood horrible treatment because of their dreams to become Major League baseball players.
Eventually, these thirty-five players and executives were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Unfortunately many were inducted posthumously.
So stop by Leidy’s and purchase a book and get it signed or have the book in your possession signed by the author himself.
It’s finally official: MSIT dedicates ball fields in honor of Gloria Cordes Elliott, Bob Steele
By Charlie De Biase Jr. | debiase@siadvance.com
“There’s no crying in baseball?”
Well, Jimmy Dugan will have you believe that’s the case, but truth is, sometimes there is.
And ironically, Ed Elliott, a long-time baseball guy himself, chose to wear a T-shirt with that very phrase during McKee/Staten Island Tech’s Field Dedication ceremony to his late wife, Gloria Cordes Elliott, and Bob Steele on Tuesday afternoon.
“Oh yeah, she would have loved it, but probably would have been a little embarrassed by it too,’’ said Ed Elliott as he eyes filled with tears. “She deserved this. That’s for sure.’’
The ceremony, which was attended by hundreds at MSIT’s New Dorp complex, was a long-time coming for various reasons as the program officially named its softball field after Cordes Elliott and its baseball field after Steele. Bob Steele wore many hats during his tenure with McKee/Staten Island Tech’s athletic program. He was the program’s baseball coach for 42 seasons.
Cordes Elliott, of course, graduated from McKee HS in 1949 before embarking on a highly successful four-year career in the defunct All-American Girls’ Professional Baseball League during the 1950s. Elliott, a right-hander, owned a four-pitch arsenal that included a knuckleball. She initially signed and played for the Kalamazoo Lassies and was eventually named an All Star.
Steele, meanwhile, will always be synonymous with MSIT athletics — and for good reason. The Great Kills resident, who attended the ceremony with plenty family members in tow, was not only the Seagulls’ long-time baseball coach (42 years), but athletic director as well (32 years). He first stepped through the doors at McKee HS in 1960. During his tenure as athletic director, MSIT’s program jumped from six teams to a whopping 34. Today, MSIT is home to 39 different teams.
Both Cordes Elliott and Steele are Staten Island Sports Hall of Famers that have been honored by the Advance/SILive.com. Cordes Elliott was tabbed the History Award winner in 1995 while Steele was named the Sportsman of the Year in 2002.
Dedicatory address
Borough President James Oddo, a driving force in making Tuesday’s MSIT Field Dedication to Bob Steele and Gloria Cordes Elliott a realty, speaks during the ceremony.“It’s a tremendous honor and overwhelming. I’ve seen some people I haven’t seen in years — guys that used to play for me,’’ said the 85-year-old Steele, who got to see Michael Polito (former McKee baseball MVP and basketball starter), who last played for the legendary coach in 1965. “I was stunned when they called to tell me about it. It certainly brings back a lot of memories.
“It means a lot to see my name on that sign,’’ added the current CSI baseball assistant coach. The ceremony, which was emceed by Staten Island Tech principal Mark Erlenwein, included a Dedicatory Address by Staten Island Borough President James Oddo, who was a driving force in making the Field Dedication a realty. Oddo, a big baseball fan himself, spoke passionately about both Cordes Elliott and Steele during his address.
Staten Island Tech’s High School Band, which is led by Robert Rams, played the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ and ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ at the opening and close of the ceremony, respectively.
“It was wonderful,’’ added Ed Elliott, a legendary presence at Staten Island Little League who is also a Staten Island Sports Hall of Famer. “Everything was right to the point. I don’t think (my wife) ever really knew how respected she was. She did a lot of things for kids.’
Former Advance/SILive.com columnist and Hall of Fame Board Member Jay Price, who was on hand along with dozens of former coaches/athletes, wrote about Cordes Elliott and Steele on a number of occasions through the years. He does believe there’s a connection between the honorees. “Obviously, they belong to a different time and a different Staten Island,’’ said Price. “They come from a time when, whatever became of you or became of sports, it happened organically and it was always about the kid.’’
Great to be Back – Hall of Fame Celebrates Golf and Reunion on May 13th.
It’s been a year in the making to bring the Hall of Fame supporters and members back for our annual Golf Outing. On May 13th – we were finally able to pull off a fantastic event and one of the main fundraisers for the Hall of Fame John Woodman, the Chairperson of the event and his wife Nancy worked tirelessly to make it happen this year. The basket raffle arrangements by Nancy were incredible and helped to raise much needed funds to support our Museum and the efforts for the Hall. It was great to see everyone and the day could not have been more perfect. It started with the Golf event at South Shore Golf Course and ended with a fabulous Dinner at Grand Oak Country Club. Nothing like getting all these sports people in a room that had not seen each other in over a year. Check out our Facebook page for the incredible pictures taken by our new Board Member Derek Alvez.
MSIT Softball Field to be renamed for the late S.I. Sports Hall of Famer Gloria Cordes Elliot
Gloria Cordes Elliot is a former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League pitcher and inspiration for one of the most well-known baseball movies, “A League of Their Own.” She is also a SI Sports Hall of Famer and recognized as one of the the most loyal and influential supports to the Hall of Fame. Though she passed away a few years back we are so pleased to hear that she will finally get that field at MSIT named for her on Tuesday, June 8th at 2:30pm. The lifelong Staten Islander, who grew up in Stapleton before relocating to Oakwood, amassed a career 2.54 era over five seasons from 1950 to 1954. She appeared in three All-Star games, and her uniform is on display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. She was inducted into the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. Her career began when she went to the Weissglass Stadium in Port Richmond to see two touring teams — the Chicago Colleens and Springfield Sallies — play a baseball game. Tryouts were held before the game to find possible players for the All-American Girls League, and she volunteered to tryout as a pitcher. At 18 years old, she left Staten Island and was signed to play for the All-American Girls Baseball League in South Bend, Ind. After the league folded in 1954, she went on to coach numerous girls’ teams at Staten Island Little League. An incredible lady and a role model for many young woman in sports. John Iasparro shared the news and we are so pleased to see Gloria get her honor at MSIT.