Ellis R. Norton
b. 1925
Category
Baseball
Official
Year Inducted
2020
Norton served as a bombardier in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943-1945 earning the rank of Second Lieutenant.
Elly was an acclaimed five-sport athlete at Bemus Point High earning multiple letters in baseball, basketball, football, volleyball and golf. He was the captain and best athlete on “Pointer” team that won several league titles and All-Star honors for himself.
Stuart C. Maguire, sports editor of the Jamestown Post-Journal, called Norton the “Red Grange” of six-man football in Chautauqua County. “He has everything the game requires, being a fine ball-carrier, passer, receiver and kicker. In the six-man game, a back must be expert in catching as well as receiving passes. They haven’t found one yet who can throw and catch the ball on the same play, but Norton comes close to that proficiency. Yea, he’s that good,” wrote Maguire.
read more...
Following his military duty, he returned to the area to pitch and play outfield for the powerful Jamestown Steel Partition Bombers semi-pro team. The Bombers won the New York State semipro championship and competed in the national tournament in Wichita, Kansas.
Norton’s play in Wichita earned him a professional contract with the New York Yankees. He pitched for Newark, Ohio in the Class D Ohio-Indiana League in 1948. The next year he threw for Amsterdam, New York in the Canadian-American League and Easton, Maryland in the Eastern Shore Leagued. A shoulder injury ended his pro career, but he resumed play with the Steel Partition Bombers back home.
Norton became a physical education teacher, first, and later a counselor in the Jamestown Public Schools. He coached baseball and golf at Jamestown High as well as junior high school sports. He also found time to coach Little League baseball.
Elly was a well-known and respected sports official. He officiated football for 42 years, basketball for 38 and track and field for 12. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southwestern NY Football Officials Association and was honored by Section 6 at Rich Stadium in 1996.
He resides in the Fluvanna area outside of Jamestown.
more about Ellis R. Norton
Memorabilia
select an image to enlarge
Photographs
select an image to enlarge
Publications
transcribed publications
- Olson, Scrubby. "Elly Norton Forsakes Pro Diamond For Coaching Post and Likes It." Post-Journal (Jamestown), October 16, 1953.
scanned publications
select an image to enlarge
Videos
Ellis Norton (2019) on World War II
Lyle Parkhurst on starting in baseball (2000)Ellis Norton (2019) on Baseball and more
video courtesy Greg Peterson
Websites
- "Ellis Norton." Baseball Reference. Accessed February 10, 2020. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=norton001ell.
The additional financial assistance of the community is critical to the success of the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.
We gratefully acknowledge these individuals and organizations for their generous support.