Elbie Fletcher

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Elbie Fletcher was an American baseball first baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1934 to 1949. Born Elburt Preston Fletcher on March 18, 1916, in Milton, Massachusetts, he batted and threw left-handed. He spent time with the Boston Braves/Bees, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and again the Braves. His unusual MLB debut came in 1934 after winning a local contest that asked which Boston-area high school player would reach the majors; with help from his family, Fletcher earned a spot on the team.

Over 12 seasons, Fletcher hit .271 with 79 home runs and 616 RBIs in 1,415 games, and he played first base with a .993 fielding percentage. He was an All-Star in 1943. Fletcher led the National League in walks in 1940 (119) and 1941 (118), and he led in on-base percentage in 1940 (.418), 1941 (.421), and 1942 (.417). He died on March 9, 1994, in Milton, Massachusetts, nine days before his 78th birthday, and is buried in Milton Cemetery.