Mark Ellis, Mr. HR SoDak
With his fifth home run of 2006, and the 33rd of his career, Mark Ellis moved into sole possesion of the coveted “Mr. Homerun South Dakota” crown. He passed Dave Collins as the player with the most career home runs by a player born in South Dakota.
It’s not that I’m particularly fond of SD, or obsessed with Mark Ellis, mind you. It’s just that the crowning of a new state home run king doesn’t happen all that often.
With Tuesday’s victory, in which Ellis became the all-time home run leader among Major Leaguers born in South Dakota, Oakland maintained its slim lead in the American League West.
“I was a little disappointed they didn’t stop the game and give me a plaque or something,” Ellis cracked.
Career homer No. 33 for Ellis moved him past Dave Collins, who has a Little League field named after him in their shared hometown of Rapid City, S.D. Ellis said he already had a couple of congratulatory phone messages waiting on his cell phone by the end of the game.
“They better name a street after him or something,” said Crosby, who couldn’t resist poking some fun at his double-play partner. “They’ve had, what, two baseball players besides him from South Dakota? … I didn’t know [Ellis had set the mark tonight] or I’d have been all over him. Now, I have ammo for tomorrow.”