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Ed Griffith

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Edward Parker Griffith ("Dad"), born August 24th, 1886 in Little Rock, AR,1 was a professional baseball player from 1909-1911.

Biography

Ed Griffith was one Little Rock's most prominent figures in amatuer baseball during the first two decades of the Nineteenth century, serving as player-manager for many teams in the Little Rock City League. He also played professional baseball with multiple teams in the Northeast Arkansas League, including 1909 Marianna,2 1910 Caruthersville,3 and very briefly with 1911 Paragould. 4 Griffith's career might have progressed into higher levels of baseball if not for the prolonged effects of serious injuries he sustained in a railroad accident in 1905. As a result the accident, he was partially paralyzed5 and likely also lost three toes, though it was later claimed that Griffith had the toes removed to increase his speed on the basepaths.6

Griffith may also have played with Sherman in the Texas-Oklahoma League in 1914.7

Griffith died on December 5th, 1959 and was buried in Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock.8

Excerpts

"Ed Griffiths, who was also seriously injured, was taken to St. Vincent's Infirmary. He is a son of joseph Griffith, who was for a number of years secretary of the Home Mutual Building Association."9

"All of the Little Rock persons injured in the wreck on the Fort Smith railroad at Ozark Junction early Saturday morning are doing well, with the exception of Ed Griffith, a member of the Martin Arms Company baseball team, and fears are entertained for his recovery. He was taken to St. Vincent's Infirmary after the arrival here of a train bringing the wreck victims early Sunday morning, and it was said at the infirmary last night that his condition was regarded as extremely serious. He has several bruises about the body, but the principal injury was to his spine, which is badly hurt. The patient is also suffering from the excessive loss of blood which was caused by an operation at Ozark by physicians of Van Buren, who went to Ozark on relief train. Young Griffith's pulse was said to be very feeble last night, and this was accounted for by the loss of blood."10

"Especially encouraging are the reports from St. Vincent's Infirmary as to the condition of Ed GRiffith, who was the most seriously hurt in the accident. It was said that he rested well, and, although he is not regarded as out of danger, it is believed that he has a chance to recover."11

"[Marianna manager Jack McAdams] yesterday signed up Ed Griffith of the [Little Rock city league] Lloyds for second base."12

""Dad Griffith" has been with the [Lloyds Little Rock city league] team only part of the season, having played with the Caruthersville team in the Northeast Arkansas League during the greater part of the year. He has managed all of the last five pennant-winning clubs of the City League. Had it not been for an unfortunate accident, Griffith would undoubtedly now be playing ball in fast company. Three or four years ago, he was in a railroad accident and suffered several broken bones. For weeks he was confined in a hospital, and he never recovered from the effects of the unfortunate occurrence. He was badly sown up, and what promised to be a bright baseball career was spoiled, although "Dad" is a star in the City League, and also had great success in the Northeast Arkansas [League]."13

"Little Rock, February 23. — What is believed to be a precedent in operations performed for benefit of ball players has been established here as a result of a surgical feat performed on Ed Griffith, a promising minor league player, who submitted to his toes being cut off on advice of his physicians to increase his speed on the bases and in the field. Griffith has always hit like a cyclone and has fielded and thrown well, but his abnormally long toes prevent speed."14

"Probably laboring under the theory that Mordecai Brown, star pitcher of the Chicago National baseball team, gained his efficiency when a finger was snipped off by a thrashing machine, Edward Griffith, who recently signed for the Fort Smith team in the Western association, has had his toes cut off to increase his swiftness of foot. Griffith formerly was a Little Rock (Ar.) City league player of prominence, but found the abnormal length of his toes mitigated against attaining any kind of speed as a base runner and ultimately retarded his efforts to attract managers in the larger baseball circles."15

" . . . The Lloyds have been weakened b the loss of their manager, "Dad" Griffith, who accepted a berth in the Northeast Arkansas League as second baseman on the Paragould club."16

Stats

1909 Statistics at Baseball-Reference.com.