Ellis Valentine

Last updated
Ellis Valentine
Ellis Valentine Montreal Expos.jpg
Right fielder
Born: (1954-07-30) July 30, 1954 (age 68)
Helena, Arkansas
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 3, 1975, for the Montreal Expos
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1985, for the Texas Rangers
Games PA AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO Avg. OBP Slg. OPS Fld% OA
894339231663808811691512347459180462.278.315.458.773.97285

Alongside Steve Garvey, George Brett, Ken Brett, Tommy Lasorda and Fred Lynn, Valentine appeared in the "Superstar/Salem" episode of Fantasy Island during the series' first season (original air date: March 25, 1978). Gary Burghoff plays an accountant with the fantasy of being a Major League Baseball pitcher. [38] Valentine is one of his strikeout victims.

After retiring from baseball, Valentine took a job with Avis Rent-a-Car earning $4.25 per hour. [39] In his first baseball-related job since retirement, Valentine managed Antelope Valley in the short-lived Golden State League in 1995. [40] His tenure with the financially doomed league lasted just a week into the season. [41]

Post-playing career

Valentine fought drug and alcohol addiction throughout his career. [42] In September 1986, a year after retiring, he moved from Southern California, and immediately entered drug rehab in Phoenix, Arizona. After cleaning up, he took a position as a drug counselor with St. Luke's Hospital, and began helping others overcome similar issues. [2] He holds a certificates in behavioral-health and chemical dependency counseling.

Valentine currently lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where he works as a counselor at a local church and is a member of the Texas Rangers Alumni Association. [43] He is the co-founder and president of PastPros, a web-based service that allows sports fans to purchase memorabilia directly from retired athletes. [44] Also, 2014 Valentine founded RAFT Recovery inc. A 501 c 3 non profit that coaches individuals struggling with addictive behaviors. His charitable work does not stop there. The program also provides a lawn service for disabled seniors in the Dallas, Fort Worth area and surrounding communities.

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References

  1. ↑ Jeff Pearlman (March 26, 2001). "Launchpad". Sports Illustrated .
  2. 1 2 "This Valentine is a Heart of Gold... and a Pillar of Character". Baseball Against Drugs.
  3. ↑ Larry Mlynczak (May 29, 1974). "McHale: Montreal's System Came of Age". The Palm Beach Post .
  4. ↑ "Pirates Split With Montreal". Westmoreland County News-Dispatch. September 6, 1975.
  5. ↑ Ian MacDonald (January 26, 1976). "Expos' Owner Urges Caution Over Tickets". The Gazette . Montreal.
  6. ↑ "Jim Lyttle Looms as Expos' Hero". The Evening News. May 24, 1976.
  7. ↑ Ken Rappoport (April 16, 1977). "Phillies Jump on Don Stanhouse". Reading Eagle .
  8. ↑ "Expos Hang On". Lewiston Daily Sun . July 2, 1977.
  9. 1 2 Bob Dunn (August 8, 1977). "A Bargain, And Bye-bye Basement". Sports Illustrated.
  10. ↑ "Chicago Cubs 4, Montreal Expos 3". Baseball-Reference.com. April 21, 1979.
  11. ↑ "Verdict on Valentine Coming by Game Time". Montreal Gazette. April 24, 1979.
  12. ↑ Randy Phillips (April 26, 1979). "Feeney Levels Fine, Suspension for Umpire 'Bumping' Incident". Montreal Gazette.
  13. ↑ "Expos Streak to 5". Milwaukee Sentinel . April 30, 1979.
  14. ↑ "Valentine's Bat Hot as Expos, Cards Split". Ottawa Citizen . May 28, 1979.
  15. ↑ "Expos Flog Phils, Lead by One Game". Reading Eagle . May 30, 1979.
  16. ↑ "Long Healing Period For Ellie". Montreal Gazette. June 2, 1980.
  17. ↑ Richard Griffin (December 31, 2012). "Ex-Blue Jay Ryan Freel's Death Cautionary Tale on Concussions". TheStar.com.
  18. ↑ "Expos, 'Rednecks and Militants' Laugh Together". Montreal Gazette. September 6, 1980. p. 2.
  19. ↑ "Gullickson Hurls Expos Past Pirates". Lakeland Ledger . September 15, 1980.
  20. ↑ Bob Ferguson (September 22, 1980). "Valentine Comes Home With Sprained Wrist". Ottawa Citizen.
  21. ↑ "Not a Secret Now". The Register-Guard . May 21, 1981.
  22. ↑ "Expos Send Mets an Early Valentine". Leader-Post . May 30, 1981.
  23. ↑ William R. Barnard (August 19, 1981). "Christmas Valentine in May Helped Put Mets' Dave Kingman Back in Power". Portsmouth Daily Times .
  24. ↑ Jack Gurney (March 20, 1982). "Mets' Big Guys Fall to Pirates". Sarasota Herald-Tribune .
  25. ↑ "Valentine Unloads on Braves". Observer–Reporter . May 25, 1982.
  26. ↑ "New York Mets 6, Chicago Cubs 4". Baseball-Reference.com. August 13, 1982.
  27. ↑ "Valentine Upset; Now So Are Mets". Eugene Register-Guard. August 15, 1982.
  28. ↑ "Valentine Tells Mets He Desires to Leave". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. August 15, 1982.
  29. ↑ "Detroit Owner 'Baffled' By Sims". Eugene Register-Guard. August 16, 1982.
  30. ↑ Ian MacDonald (January 25, 1983). "Valentine Goes to Angels with Expos' Blessing". Montreal Gazette.
  31. ↑ Ross Newhan (March 22, 1983). "Leg Problems are Driving Poor Reggie Jackson Crazy". The Telegraph (Nashua) .
  32. ↑ "Veteran Carew, Oriole Ford Bring Free-Agent Total to 46". Montreal Gazette. November 1, 1983.
  33. ↑ "Islanders Stage a Late Awakening". Edmonton Journal . August 26, 1984.
  34. ↑ "Angels Waive Valentine". The Telegraph-Herald. November 8, 1984.
  35. ↑ "Ellis Valentine Signs Pact with Rangers' Farm Team". Gainesville Sun . July 7, 1985.
  36. ↑ "Pro Tennis Council Suspends John McEnroe for 6 Weeks". The Day (New London) . December 17, 1985.
  37. ↑ "Valentine Declines". The Victoria Advocate . February 28, 1986.
  38. ↑ "Saturday Preview". St. Petersburg Independent . March 25, 1978.
  39. ↑ David Zingler (October 2002). "Ellis Valentine". Simply Baseball Notebook's Forgotten In Time.
  40. ↑ Steve Elling (January 7, 1995). "No Players Yet, but Six Teams Set to Play Ball: Baseball: Golden State League is ready to throw its first pitch in May with a franchise in the Antelope Valley". Los Angeles Times .
  41. ↑ Rob Fernas (August 11, 1995). "For Rosamond, It Was Only Another Mirage: Baseball: Desert town might have taken to the Ravens, but some citizens just feel taken by Golden State League". Los Angeles Times.
  42. ↑ "Ellis Sees the Light After Helping Himself, Valentine Helps Others Now". Daily News (Los Angeles) . November 23, 2001.
  43. ↑ "Ellis Valentine". LinkedIn .
  44. ↑ "About Us". pastpros.com. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
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