Rowdy Elliott

Kokomo’s first Major League Baseball player, Howard “Rowdy” Elliott spent a total of five seasons playing professional baseball, breaking into the big leagues as a catcher in 1910 with the Boston Doves.

Born in 1890 in Kokomo, Elliott was just 20 years old when he made his MLB debut with the Doves on September 24, 1910. After playing a year with the Doves, which were the 1910 version of today’s Atlanta Braves, Elliott went on to play three years with the Chicago Cubs from 1916-18 and a year with the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) in 1920.

For his career, Elliott played in 157 total games, batting .241 with 97 hits, a home run, 44 RBI and 36 runs scored.

Elliott’s most successful stint came during his time with the Cubs. In three years, he collected 70 hits with 11 doubles and five triples, batting .243 with 31 RBI. In the 1917 season, he batted .251, collecting 56 hits, including eight doubles and five triples, and knocking in 28 runs while scoring 18 in 85 games.

Elliott earned his nickname “Rowdy” off the field rather than on it according to newspaper accounts from the time. On Feb. 12, 1934 he fell out of an apartment window and was taken to an area hospital. Once cleared, he was jailed on public intoxication charges. While in jail he became violently ill and was rushed to a local hospital where he died.