2013 Gilbert “Gil” Elliott

He was an outstanding pitcher in the Butler County League in the 1930’s and early 1940’s sandlot baseball era. He teamed up with Lud Smith that created a pitching duo that seldom lost when they were on the mound. Gil’s fastball was said the be the fastest in the County League for years. He signed a minor league baseball contract with the Detroit Tigers organization that took him to Class A Winston-Salem in the Piedmont League. After two seasons in the Class A League he was signed to a major league contract with Detroit, and was to move up to the major league team. A family illness caused Gil to resign from the team and move back home to help. He embarked on a very successful semi-pro career in the local teams as a pitcher and first baseman in 1948. His team won the league championship in1948 and 49. When he retired from playing he spent many years teaching and coaching little league teams in the Petrolia area.