Biography
Estell was the son of William and Mattie Estell. He lived in Hot Springs, AR, until at least age five.2 He lived the majority of his life outside of Arkansas.3
Estell was one of the last pitchers to legally use a spitball in professional baseball.
Estell died on September 26th, 1964 in Kilgore, TX.4 He was buried in Kilgore City Cemetery in Kilgore.5
Excerpts
"Thomas M. Estell, 66, former minor league pitcher, manager and umpire, died in a hospital in Kilgore, Tex., September 26, after a two-month illness. Estell started his career with a 3-5 record at Waterloo (Central Association) in 1916. After playing semi-pro ball in 1917, the Hot Springs (Ark.) native enlisted in the Canadian Army for World War I. After his discharge in March, 1918, Estell resumed his baseball career at Brantford (Michigan-Ontario). He won 17 games and lost 12 in 1919 and had a 20-5 record in 1920. The six-foot, one-inch righthander finished the 1920 season with Louisville (American Association), adding three victories and one defeat. Estell remained with Louisville through the 1925 season and pitched the next seven years in the Texas League for Wichita Falls, Beaumont, San Antonio and Fort Worth. After dropping out of hte game, he returned as an umpire in the East Texas League in 1937, managed Kilgore in the same circuit in 1938 and rejoined the league's staff as an umpire in 1939. Estell shifted to the Evangeline League in 1941 before quitting again to devote full time to a job with the Shell Pipe Line Co. However, he came back to the East Texas League in 1942 and then officiated in the Lone state League for three seasons."6
Stats
Statistics at Baseball-Reference.com.