Baseball: A Family Affair (Part 1)

Written by: Brett Topel on 29th April 2010

Baseball: A Family Affair (Part 1) | read this item

The final Sports Journalism class of the Fall semester at Adelphi University in New York was an abbreviated one. Of the two dozen students enrolled in the class, most chose to email their final paper to the professor.

Staten Island native Bobby Lanigan decided to show up in person to hand in his paper. “I like this writing thing,” he joked. “That’s because you’re really good at it,” the professor responded.

When the spring semester began, however, Lanigan was not enrolled in any classes. Writing—it turns out—is not the only thing the 22-year-old is really good at. Lanigan had to go back to his day job as a pitcher in the Minnesota Twins’ organization.

And so far in 2010, so good.

“I’m very happy with the way my season has started,” said Lanigan, who (at press time) is 1-1 with a 0.81 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with the Class A Fort Myers Miracle. “My main goal this year was to improve my changeup and gain confidence in it. And I feel I’ve been doing that.”

While attempting to reach the majors is a longshot for any young ballplayer, Lanigan may have an advantage over others—he has a pedigree. In fact, he has a Hall of Fame pedigree. But it’s not one that you might expect.

Lanigan’s great aunt—Gloria Cordes-Elliott—was not only a three-time All-Star pitcher, but is enshrined in Cooperstown. That’s right, his great aunt—also a Staten Island native—was a pitcher for five seasons in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Her career got off to an unlikely start, however.

“I had no idea there was a women’s league,” said Cordes-Elliott, who used to play with her five brothers. “There was an article in a local paper that said two teams from the Girls Professional Baseball League were touring the East Coast. They came to Staten Island and a couple of friends and I went to watch. During the game they announced that anyone interested in playing should come down on the field. Me and a few of my friends went down.

“They asked if anyone had ever pitched, and I had, so they took me aside and wanted to watch me throw. Four months later, I received a contract in the mail asking me to come to South Bend, Indiana, for a tryout.”

Read more about Bobby Lanigan and his great aunt, Gloria Cordes-Elliott—and get an update on how Lanigan’s season is going—next week in Part 2!

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Topics: American Girls, Changeup, Cordes, Couple Of Friends, Day Job, Dozen Students, Family Affair, Five Seasons, Frien, Gain Confidence, Girls Professional Baseball League, Hall of Fame, Journalism Class, Lanigan, Longshot, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Twins Organization, Professional Baseball League, Sports Journalism, Star Pitcher