Elmer Brandell
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Elmer L. Brandell (September 3, 1897 – March 4, 1958) was an American baseball player who played for the
All Nations All Nations was a barnstorming professional baseball team that toured the Midwest from 1912 to 1918, and again in 1920 and 1921, and from 1923 to 1925. It derived its name from the fact that its team included players of several nationalities, inc ...
as a catcher, played for the
University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
, and eventually became the team Captain of the
Michigan Wolverines baseball The Michigan Wolverines baseball team represents the University of Michigan in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Michigan athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games ...
team by 1917. In fact, Coach Carl Lundgren announced Brandell was "One of the most valuable men" that he had ever coached, "playing with ability in almost any position on the nine."The MICHIGANENSIAN 20-1916 Pages 74 and 307 During the uncertainty of the War and the 1917 season, it was rumored that Brandell was being scouted by former University of Michigan coach
Branch Rickey Wesley Branch Rickey (December 20, 1881 – December 9, 1965) was an American baseball player and sports executive. Rickey was instrumental in breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier by signing black player Jackie Robinson. He also creat ...
,"Rickey Hadn't Heard of Brandell's Plan" The Daily Times News, Ann Arbor, MI, Friday, April 27, 1917 Page 6, Column 3
/ref> and the article went on to say that Brandell was "the best infielder, and hitter Michigan has seen since the days of the versatile (George) Sisler." Brandell left the Wolverines to play in the minor leagues for the
Newark Bears The Newark Bears were an American independent league professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They were a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and, later, the Canadian American Association of Professional Bas ...
, a Double-A Team in the International League, for at least one year before most baseball players were called off to fight in
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. Some sources report that Michigan had no season during 1917, others show Brandell was named the Captain, and that he was listed on the roster for that year. After his stint with the Newark Bears, Brandell followed many of his fellow players into War. He would return from the war and play baseball again, even showing up on the rolls of Philadelphia's national team. On April 2 of 1919, however, he wired
Jack Coombs John Wesley Coombs (November 18, 1882 – April 15, 1957), nicknamed "Colby Jack" after his alma mater, was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics (1906–14), Br ...
to say he was quitting baseball "for keeps" and would return to his home and a new business opportunity in Anoka, Minnesota."Michigan Shortstop Out of Baseball; Phils Lose" Washington Times, Washington, DC, Thursday, April 3, 1919, Page 18, Column 5
/ref> In the mid-1920s, Brandell eventually found himself catching for his long-time friend from the
All Nations All Nations was a barnstorming professional baseball team that toured the Midwest from 1912 to 1918, and again in 1920 and 1921, and from 1923 to 1925. It derived its name from the fact that its team included players of several nationalities, inc ...
baseball team, John Donaldson in 1925 when they both played for a team in Bertha, Minnesota known as the Fishermen.


Personal life

Born and raised in Anoka, Minnesota, Brandell graduated from there in 1912 and went to
Carleton College Carleton College ( ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1866, the main campus is between Northfield and the approximately Carleton ...
. He later went to the University of Michigan where he played and lettered in both football and baseball. He was also part of the fraternity
Lambda Chi Alpha Lambda Chi Alpha (), commonly referred to as Lambda Chi, is a fraternities and sororities, collegiate fraternity in North America. With over 300,000 initiates as of 2024, it is the third-largest social fraternity in the world by number of initia ...
. He received his
Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...
from the University of Michigan in 1917. He was a veteran of
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, however, a Bemidji, Minnesota newspaper outed him as receiving "deferred classification by reason of being already in the Military Service.." The paper went on to call the job a "bomb proof job" and was likely of a clerical nature."Northwest Men in 'Bomb Proof' Jobs: Shown In Report" Bemidji Daily Pioneer, Bemidji, Minnesota, Monday Evening, October 7, 1918, Page 4, Column 1
/ref> On September 5, 1918, he married Miss Bertha Revolia of Cambridge, Minnesota, at a ceremony in St. Paul."Elmer Brandell..." Little Falls Herald, Little Falls, Minnesota, Friday, September 13, 1918, Page 1, Column 1
/ref> According to the University records, after playing baseball, he became a sales representative for McLaughlin Gormley King Co. in Minneapolis. Michigan's Alumnus magazine lists him as the Vice-President of the Cleary Hill Mines Company in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was also at the Gregory Bates Mining Company at Black Hawk, Colorado, in 1936. Newspapers also have him living in Seattle, and in Chicago where he ultimately died.


References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brandell, Elmer 1897 births 1958 deaths All Nations players Michigan Wolverines baseball players Baseball players from Minnesota Sportspeople from Anoka, Minnesota 20th-century African-American sportsmen 20th-century American sportsmen