Celebrating Black History Month: Highlighting Chuck McElroy
In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are looking back at some of the best Black players to suit up for their club. While some of these standout performers from across the sport went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply
In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are looking back at some of the best Black players to suit up for their club.
While some of these standout performers from across the sport went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers. Some were notable for their presence, both on and off the field. And, in a few cases, some had that one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”
Over the month, we will highlight some of the best Black baseball players to ever suit up for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
In the last few years, all players featured have suited up for the Red Barons, SWB Yankees and RailRiders. In the past, we have highlighted greats like In the past, we have featured greats like Marlon Anderson, Ryan Howard, Aaron Judge, Wendell Magee and Jimmy Rollins.
In 2024, we focused on Tony Barron, DJ Mitchell and Floyd Rayford, Austin Jackson, Kevin Jordan and Billy McMillon, Lou Collier, Jamie Westbrook and Mason Williams as well as Chris Dickson, Tony Longmire and Thomas Neal.
This month, we have reminisced about Hall-of-Famer Leon Day and Zelous Wheeler.
Chuck McElroy
McElroy was an 8th round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1986 First-Year Player Draft out of Lincoln High School in Port Arthur, Texas. After solid numbers during his first three seasons as a starter, he transitioned to the bullpen in 1989 and became a member of the Red Barons during their first year of existence.
At age 21, the lefty appeared in 14 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre that summer, sporting a 1-2 mark with a 2.93 ERA out of Bill Dancy’s bullpen. McElroy struck out 12 and walked 11 over 15.1 innings. He also earned his first MLB call, debuting on September 4, 1989.
He found a more dominant groove in 1990. With the Red Barons, McElroy went 6-8 out of the pen but carried a 2.72 ERA and struck out 78 batters to 34 walks over 76 innings. He pitched in 57 games for SWB that season, which remains in the top 10 in appearances in a single season in franchise history. He would appear in 14 more minor league games during the rest of his career.
McElroy moved on to the Chicago Cubs in 1991 and pitched in 627 Major League games over the next 11 years. He retired after the 2001 season at age 33. McElroy carried a 3.90 ERA in 739.1 innings in the bigs.