Danny And His Cannon: Former Phillie Reflects On Life

On April 10, 1976 Danny Elko’s life changed forever. 

While crossing the street on Highway 19 to get pizza and beer, a truck struck him head-on. He went through the windshield of a car and was rushed to Morton Plante Hospital.

The southpaw’s throwing hand had to be reattached.   

Elko never played baseball again.

Beforehand, Danny Elko attempted to make the big leagues, something his father, ‘Piccolo’ Pete Elko, did for two seasons with the Chicago Cubs in 1943-1944. 

"I took after Roberto Clemente. I had the cannon (arm). I had the speed as a left-hander. I could drag bunt my tail off and my defense was superb,” Elko said.

Elko played his high school ball at Woodrow Wilson High School (now known as Harry S. Truman High School). He pitched some and started in right field. 

“We were always in last place. I took the batting championship at Wilson my junior and senior year. I was voted to the East/West All-Star Game at Veteran’s Stadium,” Elko said. 

Frank O’Rourke from the New York Yankees selected an 18-year old Elko in the third round of the 1972 MLB Draft.

“I took the money,” Elko said. “When I got drafted, Frank O’Rourke and I talked three times. I was debating, because Florida State was looking at me as a defensive back. I didn’t have any family background in college. It was a move I wouldn’t take back,” Elko said. 

Elko played his first two seasons for the rookie level Johnson City Yankees of the Appalachian League. 

The rookie level is for players 22 and under. It has a shortened season and is the lowest level of the minor league system.

“The professional stage is just practice, practice, staying in there. You’re going to get bigger, stronger. It works,” Elko said. 

Elko hit .191 in 1972, and .234 in 1973.

He talked about the differences in the minor leagues now and then.

“Today, the field conditions are 100 percent better. We had grass almost a foot high. There were rocks. Today, the field conditions are unbelievable -- the minor league fields and major league fields. The bats are better, the balls are better and the equipment is better,” Elko said.

Elko’s father ‘Piccolo’ Pete Elko played in the Major Leagues between the years of 1943-1944 for the Chicago Cubs. He appeared in nine games in 1943 and seven games in 1944.

“He was an alternate third baseman. My dad knew some very strong people in baseball. He could really throw it across the diamond,” Elko said.

Elko discussed how the road trips were back in the 1940s.

“Sitting down with those oldtimers, it’s just good stuff. You could just sit down and listen to them. The long train rides and they’re all wearing suits. They ate their meat and potatoes," Elko said.

His father’s death always baffled Danny.

“He died the same day that he was brought up to the major leagues. That blows my mind,” Elko said.

Pete debuted with the Cubs on September 17, 1943. He passed away 50 years later on September 17, 1993.

After Elko’s second season with Johnson City, 'The Boss' George Steinbrenner debuted as the Yankees owner in 1973.

Steinbrenner made major changes within the organization and Elko was cut.

The Philadelphia Phillies picked Elko up.

“The Phillies were a class act. The Yankees were more strict. They wanted me to cut my hair. I had a little shag haircut and a mustache you couldn’t see,” Elko said.

Elko had a fantastic 1976 spring training with the Phillies.

 “I was a late bloomer,” Elko said. “The hitting came along when I was 21 with the Phillies. I hit triples, and balls off the wall. They tested my arm in right field. I remember that spring training and it was there, it was all there.”

Then April 10 came.

He was with Ruben Amaro and Jim Bunning at the time. Bunning gave him a $20 bill to get some food, and then the accident happened.

The 1976 Phillies went on to win 101 games before losing to the Cincinnati Reds in the 1976 National League Championship Series.

The core of that team, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Garry Maddox, Bob Boone, Larry Bowa, Larry Christenson, Ron Reed, Greg Luzinski and Tug McGraw went on to win the Phillies thier first World Series in franchise history in 1980.

After the accident, Elko graduated college at the age of 26.

He currently resides in the Levittown area where he works as a groundskeeper.

“My dad always said to me, you’re going to be better than me,” Elko said. “I don’t take anything back.”