Archie Joseph Yelle (June 11, 1892 – May 2, 1983) was an American baseballcatcher. He played professional baseball for 20 years from 1911 to 1930, including 87 games in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers from 1917 to 1919. He also played seven years in the Pacific Coast League for the San Francisco Seals. In 17 seasons in the minor leagues, Yelle appeared in 1,449 games, 1,305 of them as a catcher. He was posthumously inducted into the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
Early years
Yelle was born in Saginaw, Michigan, in 1892.[1] He played three sports at Saginaw High School.[2]
Yelle played for the Detroit Tigers of the American League from 1917 to 1919.[1] According to one published account of questionable accuracy, Yelle signed with the Tigers after claiming he could strike out Ty Cobb on three pitches. He was given a tryout with the Tigers, and on the three pitches he had claimed he would need to strike out Cobb, Cobb hit three home runs.[2] In fact, Yelle was drafted by the Tigers in September 1914.[4]
Yelle appeared in 25 games in 1917, 13 as a starter, and compiled a .137 batting average and a .214 on-base percentage. The following year, he appeared in 56 games, 43 as the Tigers' starting catcher, and compiled a .174 batting average and a .227 on-base percentage. In 1919, he appeared in only six games for the Tigers and failed to hit in five at bats. He appeared in his last major league game on July 20, 1919.[1]
In 1921, Yelle compiled a career high .293 batting average in 113 games for the Seals.[3] In 1922, he appeared in 108 games, compiled a .254 batting average, and helped lead the Seals win the PCL championship with a 127–72 record.[3][5] In 1925, the Seals were 128–71, winning another PCL title. That year, Yelle hit .267 in 101 games and was chosen by The Sporting News as the catcher for the PCL All Star Team.[6]
On October 6, 1926, the Seals sold Yelle to the Portland Beavers of the PCL.[7] Yelle appeared in 111 games for Portland in 1927 and compiled a .260 batting average.[3]
In 17 seasons in the minor leagues, Yelle appeared in 1,449 games, 1,305 of them as a catcher.[3]
Later years
After his baseball career ended, Yelle worked as a police officer and later police chief in Woodland, California, from 1935 to 1965. He later worked as a prison guard.[2] Yelle died in Woodland in 1983 at age 90.[1] He was buried at Monument Hill Memorial Park in Woodland.[8] Yelle was posthumously inducted into the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.[2]
