1940 Memories of Kid Elberfeld - by Carter B. Norman (Minden, LA)
In February of 1940, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend Norman "Kid" Elberfeld Baseball School in Palatka, Florida where Babe Ruth was an instructor. Mr. Larry Hunter, owner of Coca-Cola Bottling, Co. in Minden, Louisiana, brought me to Florida for this great experience.
The school lasted for a period of six weeks. At the end of the second week, (Kid) asked if I was the boy Mr. Hunter had brought down. I assured him I was and he asked if I thought Mr. Hunter would be will to take Babe Ruth fishing. I told him Mr. Hunter would be delighted to take Babe Ruth fishing and I promised him I would ask him that afternoon after practice. At night we would meet at a theater to watch films on baseball techniques, etc. Later that afternoon when I saw Mr. Hunter I told him of my conversation with Kid. That night he went with me to the theater to meet Kid and Babe Ruth. They arranged the fishing trip and that started our association with Kid Elberfeld.
Kid's first name was Norman and my last name was Norman, so it's possible that accounted for our becoming good friends. Kid's playing weight was 135 lbs and I weighed 130 lbs. As the end of the session was drawing near, one day I asked Kid what he would charge to come to Minden and coach a bunch of baseball boys such as myself for the summer (three months). He was interested and agreed to come for three months, for $150.00, plus room and board. I knew my parents would let him sleep at our house if I could get 15 boys to put up $10.00 each, making it possible to swing the deal. That night when I told Mr. Hunter my idea of bringing Kid to Minden for the summer to teach boys he was delighted and said, "Carter, let me talk with Kid and set this up." The following day Mr. Hunter went out to the ballpark and he and Kid talked. Later that day Mr. Hunter told me he and Kid had made a deal for him to come to Minden for the summer. I was VERY EXCITED! That was the beginning of a relationship with Mr. Hunter, Kid Elberfeld, myself and the baseball boys of Webster Parish.
In 1941 World War II started and Mr. Hunter's baseball players entered the various branches of service and Mr. Hunter wrote letters! He kept in touch with all the boys, reporting to all of us where everyone was once a month. In May 1946, I returned from the war and was very saddened to learn Kid was dead. Kid Elberfeld played a very important part in my baseball training.
At the end of the 1940 baseball season I entered LSU. In the spring of 1941, I made the freshman baseball team. Our first game was a road trip to Mississippi Southern where I hit a single the first time at bat. On the second pitch I stole 2nd base on a close play, using a hook slide taught to me by Kid Elberfeld. I repeated this by stealing third base and still no one was out. Stealing 2nd and 3rd with my knowledge of hook sliding taught to be by Kid Elberfeld made me feel real good. The second batter struck out. The third batter hit a fly ball to center field and I tagged up and scored.
As I was sitting in the dugout, the manager yelled "Norman, come here" He asked "Who gave you the sign to steal 2nd?" I could tell by the tone of his voice he wasn't happy. "No-one," was my answer, but I could see the opening. He then asked who told me to take third. By this time I could see I was in trouble, so I did not answer. After a pause, the manager asked who had taught me to hook and slide. My answer was "Kid Elberfeld". The manager was very surprised and said he was the bat boy when Kid Elberfeld managed The Little Rock Travelers. He then said, "Since you had your training from Kid Elberfeld, you know more about baseball than I do. From now on you have a free run on the bases." All boys that played baseball for Mr. Hunter and under the teaching of Kid Elberfeld during the 1940, 1941, and 1943 showed the influence and guidance that these two men had on their lives.
The school lasted for a period of six weeks. At the end of the second week, (Kid) asked if I was the boy Mr. Hunter had brought down. I assured him I was and he asked if I thought Mr. Hunter would be will to take Babe Ruth fishing. I told him Mr. Hunter would be delighted to take Babe Ruth fishing and I promised him I would ask him that afternoon after practice. At night we would meet at a theater to watch films on baseball techniques, etc. Later that afternoon when I saw Mr. Hunter I told him of my conversation with Kid. That night he went with me to the theater to meet Kid and Babe Ruth. They arranged the fishing trip and that started our association with Kid Elberfeld.
Kid's first name was Norman and my last name was Norman, so it's possible that accounted for our becoming good friends. Kid's playing weight was 135 lbs and I weighed 130 lbs. As the end of the session was drawing near, one day I asked Kid what he would charge to come to Minden and coach a bunch of baseball boys such as myself for the summer (three months). He was interested and agreed to come for three months, for $150.00, plus room and board. I knew my parents would let him sleep at our house if I could get 15 boys to put up $10.00 each, making it possible to swing the deal. That night when I told Mr. Hunter my idea of bringing Kid to Minden for the summer to teach boys he was delighted and said, "Carter, let me talk with Kid and set this up." The following day Mr. Hunter went out to the ballpark and he and Kid talked. Later that day Mr. Hunter told me he and Kid had made a deal for him to come to Minden for the summer. I was VERY EXCITED! That was the beginning of a relationship with Mr. Hunter, Kid Elberfeld, myself and the baseball boys of Webster Parish.
In 1941 World War II started and Mr. Hunter's baseball players entered the various branches of service and Mr. Hunter wrote letters! He kept in touch with all the boys, reporting to all of us where everyone was once a month. In May 1946, I returned from the war and was very saddened to learn Kid was dead. Kid Elberfeld played a very important part in my baseball training.
At the end of the 1940 baseball season I entered LSU. In the spring of 1941, I made the freshman baseball team. Our first game was a road trip to Mississippi Southern where I hit a single the first time at bat. On the second pitch I stole 2nd base on a close play, using a hook slide taught to me by Kid Elberfeld. I repeated this by stealing third base and still no one was out. Stealing 2nd and 3rd with my knowledge of hook sliding taught to be by Kid Elberfeld made me feel real good. The second batter struck out. The third batter hit a fly ball to center field and I tagged up and scored.
As I was sitting in the dugout, the manager yelled "Norman, come here" He asked "Who gave you the sign to steal 2nd?" I could tell by the tone of his voice he wasn't happy. "No-one," was my answer, but I could see the opening. He then asked who told me to take third. By this time I could see I was in trouble, so I did not answer. After a pause, the manager asked who had taught me to hook and slide. My answer was "Kid Elberfeld". The manager was very surprised and said he was the bat boy when Kid Elberfeld managed The Little Rock Travelers. He then said, "Since you had your training from Kid Elberfeld, you know more about baseball than I do. From now on you have a free run on the bases." All boys that played baseball for Mr. Hunter and under the teaching of Kid Elberfeld during the 1940, 1941, and 1943 showed the influence and guidance that these two men had on their lives.