Jeremy Ellis entered the USBA in 1985 as a 25 year old just looking for someone to give him a chance. He'll leave the USBA as a Detroit Legend and a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Ellis was draft in the fifth round of the USBA dispersal draft in January of 1985 by the Indiana Racers. The Racers were so short on talent that manager Bob Ueker had to bat Ellis leadoff to take advantage of his keen eye at the plate. He went on to lead the LL with 127 walks, his first of six such titles in his career, while also leading the league with 134 runs scored. He added 33 homers and 84 RBI. During the Racer's lean years Ellis was one of the few reasons for fans to come to the ballpark. He played every game like it was the seventh game of the USBA Championship. IN '86 and '87 he hit .294 while averaging 31 homers, 91 RBI, and 96 BB.
1988 saw the beginning of his power surge when he slugged a career high 44 homers but managed just 102 RBI on one of the worst teams in the USBA. He managed to score 132 runs himself while drawing 105 BB.
He continued to hit homers in 1989 compiling 29 while knocking in a career best 120 as the team climbed to second in the Yankee division for the first time ever.
Jeremy's homerun production dropped to 29 in 1990 but he saw a dramatic increase in doubles from 31 in '89 to 42. He still drew over 90 BB and knocked in over 90 runs while scoring 106 of his own.
With pressure from within the organization for Ellis to get his homeruns production back to where it was in previous seasons he struggled at the plate and suffered through his worst season of his prime years in 1991. His .258 batting average was 30 lower than any season he had ever put up before and while his homerun production increased to 35 his OB% dropped to a then career low .378.
At the age of 33 Ellis played in a career low 146 games during the 1992 season but he enjoyed his best year at the plate. He hit a career high .346 with 90 XBH including 39 homers and 48 doubles. He knocked in 119 runs while scoring 126 of his own and his team won their second consecutive Yankee title.
After a solid 1993 that saw him hit 32 homers and score 114 runs Ellis finally tasted postseason success in 1994. He finished the '94 season third in the LL batting race(.335) but he led the LL with a career high .452 OB%. The Sparkplugs won 107 games and were heavy favorited to win the USBA title. The 'Plugs won the '97 title in five games over the defending USBA champion Boston Pilgrims and Ellis was named the postseason MVP after hitting .397 in 15 games.
After the 1994 season Ellis' skills began to decline. He averaged just 25 homers and 77 RBI from '95~'97 and while he was still the unquestioned leader of the clubhouse he had become just another player on the field. He was and still is a fan favorite in Detroit to this day. When Detroit won it's second USBA championship in 1997 Ellis was the one pushed to the podium by his teammates to accept the Championship Trophy from USBA Commish Scott Fite.
Ellis enters the 1998 season with his name scattered throughout the USBA career leaderboards. He's first in games played and bases on balls. Second in runs scored and total bases. Third in homers, fourth in RBI and OB%. He's been an All-Star nine times, four times a starter. Named to the All League team five times and has two championships.
1998 brings in a new role for Jeremy Ellis. In his 14th and likely final season as a player in the USBA his job is to mentor super prospect Bill Burke on and off the field while Burke takes his job. We are all sure that this future Hall of Famer will take on this task the same way he has everyother task in his like, with class.