OJIBWE ELIJAH ED “ED” PINNANCE BECOMES 1ST FULL-BLOODED NATIVE AMERICAN TO PLAY IN A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME
Born October 22, 1879, on Walpole Island, Ontario, Ed went to Shingwauk Indian Residential School in Sault Ste. Marie before attending Michigan Agricultural College (later Michigan State Univ.). Starting out playing in Mount Clements, Michigan, he was a right-hander with good control, an excellent curve and both overhand & underhand deliveries. Nicknamed “Peanuts,” Ed was called up from Lebanon, New Hampshire by the Philadelphia A’s at the end of the 1903 season. Pinnance first appeared in a game against the Washington Senators to relieve Weldon Henley in the 8th inning. He pitched in relief in one other game, September 29th. Pinnance played in the New York State League from 1904-06 with Amsterdam, Troy, and the Albany Senators. He then played in the New England & Pacific Coast Leagues from 1906-10 with Nashua, New Lebanon, Portland, and Bay City, Michigan. After baseball, Ed farmed on Walpole and Squirrel Islands. Pinnace died on Walpole Island, December 12, 1944.
Source: Jeffrey Powers-Beck, “Elijah Edward Pinnance,” in C. Richard King, Native Americans in Sports (Routledge, 2015). Retrieved 7/11/2020, Native Americans in Sports - C. Richard King - Google Books Photo: Author unknown, circa 1909. Public Domain. Source: The Oregonian.
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