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.’’
