1976 Profile: Elliott Maddox

"Another Yankee wounded warrior. Elliott tore knee cartilage on Friday, the 13th of June, and didn't play again. He was batting .307 at the time of the injury. An outstanding center fielder, his absence hurt the Yankee defense.
Born in East Orange, New Jersey, Elliott was signed by the Tigers out of the University of Michigan. Twice managed by Billy Martin, he was twice sent packing by Billy Martin.
'Billy and I just don't get along,' says Elliott. He was disappointed when Martin became Yankee manager.
'I didn't think he could hit in the big leagues,' said Martin. 'He proved me wrong.' Elliott was picked up from the Rangers for $35,000.
'Now,' said former Ranger boss Bob Short after the 1974 season, 'he's a $200,000 player.' "

-Phil Pepe, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1976 Edition

"Last year was the one in which experts looked at Elliott Maddox and said, 'Okay, do it again and we'll believe it.' Ellie had batted .303 in 1974 and had taken over the Yankee center field job after originally being ticketed to a year in the minors.
So Elliott set out to prove it all true in 1975 - and he did. He was still fielding brilliantly and was hitting over .300 again when his right knee buckled on June 13 and it was a short season for Elliott. Now, while he doesn't have to prove he's got all that talent, he's got to prove to himself that he can come back after the serious injury.
Maddox, a Union, New Jersey native who studied pre-law at the University of Michigan, signed with the Tigers and moved over to Washington in the famous Denny McLain trade. He was an infielder then, but no one has any questions about his status today - he's a big leaguer, both at bat and in the field."

-The New York Yankees Official 1976 Yearbook

"In two years, Elliott has gone from a spare outfielder, ticketed for the minors, to a top-rated center fielder and a .300 hitter, whose loss helped take the Yankees out of the pennant race last year.
He injured his right knee on June 13 and never played another inning, finally undergoing surgery in September. Elliott was hitting .307 at the time and fielding sensationally. He had captured the center field job the season before, transplanting Bobby Murcer to right, and surprising everyone with a .303 season, and was en route to proving it authentic in 1975 when the injury occurred.
Elliott was first signed by Detroit after a fine baseball career at Michigan. He played infield in Detroit and was dealt to Washington as part of the Denny McLain deal. He saw limited duty in Texas, and his sale to the Yankees during spring training of 1974 failed to stir much notice until he played his way into the regular lineup in May.
A product of Union (New Jersey) High School, Elliott studied pre-law at Michigan and has hopes of becoming a lawyer someday.
He has good speed and a strong arm which produced 18 assists in 1974.
Elliott lists wearing the Yankee uniform as his top thrill in baseball."

-1976 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide