Ezra Midkiff
Encyclopedia
Ezra Millington "Salt Rock" Midkiff (November 13, 1882 - March 20, 1957) was a Major League Baseball third baseman who played in with the Cincinnati Reds
and in and with the New York Highlanders
(renamed the New York Yankees
for the 1913 season). Midkiff was nicknamed "Salt Rock" due to his birthplace of Salt Rock, West Virginia
.
Midkiff was 26 years old when he made his major league debut on October 5, 1909, with the Cincinnati Reds. After spending time in the minor leagues, Midkiff was acquired by the Highlanders from the San Antonio Bronchos
of the Texas League
in 1912. Midkiff spent 1913 as the starting third baseman
for the Yankees, but Fritz Maisel
took the job midway through the season, and Midkiff was sold to the minor league Baltimore Orioles
in August.
before Ruth came to the majors. After parts of two seasons in Baltimore, Midkiff ended the 1914 season with the Louisville Colonels of the American Association
.
In May 1915, Midkiff was named the Colonels' manager. Midkiff, who was at the time suffering from a broken ankle, was named Manager of the club in place of John F. Hayden. At the end of the season, Midkiff was let go, and signed with the Memphis Chickasaws of the Southern Association
. He continued to play in the minor leagues until 1921, and as late as 1940 managed the Huntington Aces
of the class-D Mountain State League
.
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
and in and with the New York Highlanders
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(renamed the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for the 1913 season). Midkiff was nicknamed "Salt Rock" due to his birthplace of Salt Rock, West Virginia
Salt Rock, West Virginia
Salt Rock is an unincorporated census-designated place in southern Cabell County, West Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 388. It lies along West Virginia Route 10 southeast of the city of Huntington, the county seat of Cabell County. Its elevation is 581 feet...
.
Major league career
San Antonio Bronchos
The San Antonio Bronchos were a South Texas League and Texas League minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas, USA.-League championships:...
of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
in 1912. Midkiff spent 1913 as the starting third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
for the Yankees, but Fritz Maisel
Fritz Maisel
Frederick Charles "Fritz" Maisel , was a professional baseball player who played third base in the Major Leagues from 1913-1918. He played for the New York Yankees and St. Louis Browns. Because of his speed on the basepaths, Fritz was known as "Catonsville Flash" or just "Flash" by his fans...
took the job midway through the season, and Midkiff was sold to the minor league Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (minor league)
The city of Baltimore, Maryland has been home to two minor league baseball teams called the Baltimore Orioles.-Name history:"Orioles" is a traditional name for baseball clubs in Baltimore . It was used by major league teams from 1882 through 1899 in the American Association/National League and by...
in August.
Minor league career
In 1914, Midkiff was a teammate of Babe RuthBabe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
before Ruth came to the majors. After parts of two seasons in Baltimore, Midkiff ended the 1914 season with the Louisville Colonels of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
.
In May 1915, Midkiff was named the Colonels' manager. Midkiff, who was at the time suffering from a broken ankle, was named Manager of the club in place of John F. Hayden. At the end of the season, Midkiff was let go, and signed with the Memphis Chickasaws of the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
. He continued to play in the minor leagues until 1921, and as late as 1940 managed the Huntington Aces
Huntington Aces
The Huntington Aces were a Mountain State League baseball team based in Huntington, West Virginia that played from 1940 to 1941. They played their home games at Long Civic Field....
of the class-D Mountain State League
Mountain State League
The Mountain State League was a Class-D professional baseball league that existed from 1936 to 1941 and a Class-C league in 1942.-1937:The league began play in 1937 with six teams: the Beckley Bengals, based in Beckley, West Virginia; the Welch Miners, based in Welch, West Virginia; the Williamson...
.