Kid Elberfeld was one of the first stars of the Yankees’ franchise. The team, then known as the Highlanders, acquired Elberfeld in a mid-season trade in 1903. It was the team’s first season in New York after playing 1901 and ‘02 in Baltimore. Elberfeld came in and immediately established himself as the starting shortstop.
He was known for his temper, evidenced by the fact that his nickname was “The Tabasco Kid”. Elberfeld feuded with teammates. The trade to New York came about because Detroit Tigers’ manager Ed Barrow suspected that Elberfeld was not trying his all and was trying to engineer a trade to the St.