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Pumpsie Green
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 517 of 1252 players
Elijah Jerry Green
Born: October 27, 1933 at Oakland, Cal.
Died: July 17, 2019 at San Leandro, Cal. Obituary
Throws: Right Bats: Both
Height: 6.00 Weight: 175

Pumpsie Green was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on April 12, 2005, and September 3, 2011.

First Mets game: September 4, 1963
Last Mets game: September 26, 1963

Share your memories of Pumpsie Green HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY: Rick Royals August 28, 2001 if people called me Pumpsie, I'd by a gun and shoot them. Al November 24, 2001 Pumpsie (you gotta love that) was actually the first black player to play for the Red Sox, if memory serves me. Jonathan February 21, 2002 The thing that I remember about Elijah "PUMPSIE" Green, was that one day after a Yankee-Red Sox game at the Stadium he decided to jump the team with pitcher Gene Connelly and go to Israel. I guess when you are mired in the second division, in August, you might try anything. I also remember him coming to the 63 Mets for Felix Mantilla. Frank Grimes July 12, 2002 He was called "Pumpsie" because he used to pump gas. "hey Pumpsie, filler up!" Feat Fan June 28, 2004 Pumpsie, there's a name! I remember him as an early Met but he was essentially a BoSox, their first player of color! If you've ever been to Boston than you know this was quite a feat, Boston can be tough for black athletes. P Gene Conley and Pumpsie mysteriously disappeared after a 13–3 loss to the Yankees. They left the team bus in traffic to use a bathroom and never returned. Conley decides he wants to fly to Israel, and goes to the airport, but is refused a ticket because he does not have a visa. Conley was the loser in the game, pitching two 2/3 inning, and walking in two of the eight earned runs allowed. Pumpsie did not play. Bouton is the winner, shutting out the Sox for six innings. Bob P March 6, 2005 Pumpsie Green (born Elijah Jerry Green) was the first African-American player to play for the Red Sox. But when he first stepped on the field as a pinch-runner on July 21, 1959, it had been MORE THAN TWELVE YEARS since Jackie Robinson broke in with the Dodgers. One of the highlights of his career must have been an eleventh inning home run at Comiskey Park in April 1961 which stopped a 13-game losing streak for the Red Sox. Pumpsie Green trivia: his brother Cornell played defensive back for the Cowboys from 1962-1974, winning one Super Bowl and playing in five Pro Bowls in that period. Joe Ward November 1, 2006 Back in the summer of 63, I was working the Twin Willows golf course on a Monday, and Pumpsie showed up to play little nine hole. My wife was upset since back then, no black people were allowed in Lincoln Park NJ, let alone at the Twin Willows golf course. I told her that I was proud to let Pumpsie play since he was a member of my favorite team the New York Mets. On hole #1 he placed the ball firmly in the pond, and my wife ran over to him and proceeded to tell him that he was a crappy golfer, and spat at him. He then calmly hit again, placing the ball directly in the hole for a hole in two! I was so proud, and to this day we call hole #1 at the Twin Willows the Pumpsie Green and hole! He was such a courteous gentleman. Jamey Bumbalo February 22, 2007 I don't believe the previous posting regarding how Pumpsie got his nickname is correct. According to Green himself in the fantastic baseball book "We Played The Game," his mother gave him the nickname. From the context, it seems to have been a childhood name. Mets fan in Maine March 30, 2008 In Peter Golenbock's oral history book about the Red Sox, Pumpsie is quoted in great detail about being the first black player for the Red Sox and about the Gene Conley/Israel incident (about which his recollection and Conley's differ greatly, especially with regard to what drinking took place, and which is much more complicated than the earlier posting here recounts). Pumpsie, who spent 1964 and 1965 at AAA Buffalo after his brief time with the Mets in 1963, also is quoted about his trade to the Mets. He says: "When I was traded to the Mets, I was disappointed, because the Mets were a transition ballclub, and nobody knew what from who. I never got to know [Casey Stengel] or even talk to him." O. B. White July 17, 2019 I've just become aware of Pumpsie's death at the age of 85. His passing came just four days before the 60th anniversary of his famous debut that made the Red Sox finally integrate their roster. The Boston team was the only one existent at the time that had yet to do so. RIP, Pumpsie. richard morgan July 18, 2019 Pumpsie died today at age 85. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this but I believe he as the first black player on the Boston Red Sox roster MLB ever in 1959. the Red Sox were the last MLB club to racially integrate. The next to the last was the NY Yankees with "Suitcase" Simpson. Maybe there is some truth to the assertion that in the first 3 years or so of the Mets-M Donald Grant or George Weiss had a handful of players of color on the Mets although I am certain if this is true they were not the ONLY club to do this.

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