Ellis sets games played record for A’s

By Journal staff | Saturday, August 02, 2008

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OAKLAND — Mark Ellis stands alone at the top of the list for most games played at second base for the Oakland Athletics.

Ellis, a Rapid City native, moved past Rapid City’s Dick Green for most games played at second base during Oakland’s game with Boston on Friday in Boston.

Ellis now holds the franchise mark for most games played at second base at 722, one more than Green, who attended high school in Mitchell.

Ellis, who is in his sixth season with the A's, has battled a sore right shoulder recently. He returned to the lineup before the Athletics opened a three-game set last weekend against the visiting Texas Rangers.

Ellis entered Friday’s matchup with the Red Sox in the midst of a 55-game errorless streak, which is the third-longest streak of his career. The 31-year-old has just two errors on the season and boasts a .996 fielding percentage — the best mark among American League second basemen.

“He’s the best second baseman in the league,” Geren said earlier in the month. “There are some good ones out there, not to discredit anyone. But anyone who’s seen Mark play knows how good he is.”

Ellis, who was a standout with Post 22, credits his days of American Legion baseball with starting him on the path to becoming the defensive player he is today.

“It started with coach (Dave) Ploof and Post 22 because we took a lot of ground balls before and after practice,” Ellis said in a June interview with the Journal.

Ellis attended the University of Florida and was a ninth-round selection by the Kansas City Royals in the 1999 amateur draft. He was acquired by the A's along with outfielder Johnny Damon and pitcher Cory Lidle in a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Ben Grieve, shortstop Angel Berroa and catcher A.J. Hinch.

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