Blazing a new trail
By Patrick Ronan
The Daily Times, Farmington, New Mexico
10/07/2007
Nearly six decades ago, Franklin McCabe took the road less traveled. Today, his grandson — Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury — does the same.
Ellsbury is the first Navajo player to ever don a Major League Baseball uniform. A skilled fielder, base runner and hitter, his .353 batting average in 33 regular season games led the Red Sox. And today, after playing most of the season in the minor leagues, he's chasing a World Series championship in the American League playoffs.
Like McCabe, who called the Navajo reservation home for years, Ellsbury put it all on the line in the name of hard work and dedication. Their focus, built on a proud Navajo heritage, was similar; one's path is determined by his own actions. He is to stand up for what he loves and pursue his passion.
As Ellsbury sat in the dugout at Fenway Park in late September, he summed up his journey simply:
"This whole process, every little thing that has happened in my life ... has made me what I am today," Ellsbury said, glancing
into the outfield toward the menacing Green Monster in left field.
That big, green wall — it looks so intimidating and indestructible from afar. But Jacoby battles that wall every day.
At only 24, he works the field for the Red Sox. And, in about a month on the big stage, Ellsbury's contributions have been felt far beyond Boston. Ellsbury, like his grandfather, made the climb and conquered the wall.
A family's history
Following a two-year stint in Germany during World War II, McCabe returned to Ganado, Ariz., on the Navajo reservation to a wife and children.
Prior to the war, McCabe married Alice Curley, of the Tachiinii tribe, in the 1930s. The pair raised 15 children together. McCabe worked as an artist and surveyor as Alice tended to the homestead. In her spare time, Alice was a shepherd with a knack for weaving.
While McCabe served overseas, the reservation suffered a severe work shortage. By the time he returned, no irrigation systems remained for farming. The only way to make a living was raising sheep and cattle, a far less lucrative venture than a prospering, small plantation.
McCabe had a wife and, at the time, two children to provide for. The proud father wanted his kids to have the best educational opportunities, which required a life-altering move.
In 1949, the McCabe family moved to Parker, Ariz, a transition that prompted most of the family to relinquish its Navajo membership and join the Colorado Indian Tribes in the '60s. The move — from the reservation to Parker, Ariz. — strained the kindred, especially Alice, who left behind many friends and family, including her mother, Nellie Curley Nez.
"It was very hard for my mother," said Emily McCabe Allison, Alice's sixth born. "But (Parker) gave opportunities for Navajos to settle on 80 acres and grow farms."
The Colorado Indian Tribes were looking for "young, ambitious" families to adopt. They housed incoming members in buildings used as Japanese internment camps during war time. In Parker, dams and schools were built, creating the lifestyle McCabe desired. The change in location allowed him to grow cotton, watermelon or any other crop in high demand.
McCabe moved his family to Parker, leaving it all behind with hopes of living his dream — to care, nourish and provide for his family.
Tragically, Franklin McCabe was killed in a car accident in May 1973. Thus, Jacoby Ellsbury never met his grandfather.
But as Ellsbury proves today, an ancestor's legacy isn't passed on through physical interaction. It's inherited.
Marjorie McCabe Ellsbury was the 10th child born into the McCabe clan. After moving around during early adulthood, including a stint in Farmington, Margie moved to Warm Springs, Ore., in 1980.
While in the Northwest, Margie became a school teacher, with a focus in special education. She also met her husband, Jim Ellsbury, of English and German descent. Ellsbury worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Warm Springs reservation.
The couple married in 1983 in Parker, giving Margie's mother an opportunity to witness the union in person.
On Sept. 11, 1983, the Ellsburys welcomed their first-born to the world, a baby boy they named Jacoby. Margie gave birth to three more boys in the next nine years — Matt, Tyler and Spencer.
Trips to the Four Corners
Margie brought her brood to Shiprock on several occasions, allowing the youngsters to visit their grandmother on the reservation.
"She was a very hard worker," Jacoby said of Alice. "Everybody loved her. It was a good time over there."
While visiting the Four Corners, Jacoby spent time with Art and Emily McCabe Allison, his uncle and aunt. Art has owned 5 Star Security Inc. in Farmington for the past 15 years, while Emily is a school teacher at the Nenahnezad Community School in Fruitland.
The Ellsburys' visits to the Four Corners provided opportunities for Jacoby and his brothers to take part in athletic endeavors. And no other sport dominated Four Corners schoolyards like baseball, which a young Jacoby took quite the liking to — to say the least.
"It's balmy here. It's sunny 365 days a year," Art Allison said. "That gave him a lot of time to play baseball."
Jacoby excelled in almost all his activities, even off the playing field. In her later years, Alice put the boys in charge of sheering her sheep and Jacoby, much like he does on the base paths, amazed everyone with his quickness.
"He was really fast," Emily said of Jacoby's scissor skills. "(Alice) never saw someone sheering so fast with their left hand."
Eager to watch his favorite sport, Jacoby accompanied his uncle Art to the Connie Mack World Series at Ricketts Park. Even as a young boy, Jacoby was inspired by the major league talent invading Farmington.
"I remember the Connie Mack World Series and being impressed by the caliber of play," Ellsbury said. "It was a great atmosphere."
In 2004, Margie and her boys made a final visit to Alice. With his grandmother's condition worsening, Jacoby said goodbye.
"They were able to be with their grandmother for three or four days," Emily said of the Ellsbury's last visit. "I think (Jacoby) really respected his grandmother a lot."
The common thread that left an imprint with Jacoby was the importance of hard work. His grandparents gave all they had to provide for their children. And the same could be said about Margie and Jim's tactics with their boys.
"They've always been supportive of (Jacoby)," Emily said. "Like any family, if you want your kids to make a name, they have to provide. They paid for his (baseball) leagues, camps and uniforms. They made sure he had the best equipment."
Jacoby is very appreciative of the paths opened to him and his siblings. While many young athletes idolize the superstars filling ESPN's airwaves, Jacoby said his hero was always his father.
"He worked hard and provided for his family. That's a role model to me," Ellsbury said.
A star shines in Oregon
Jacoby attended Madras High School in Madras, Ore., where he instantly became a local superstar. He competed in track, football, basketball and baseball — a shining standout in each.
But the success didn't go to Jacoby's head. It wasn't how he was raised.
"He's the real shy type," Emily said. "Not once did he talk about himself. He was always quiet."
A four-year player on the Madras varsity basketball team, Jacoby led the White Buffalos to the state tournament on several occasions. According to his former coach, Evan Brown, who still coaches at Madras, Jacoby was a spectacular athlete who could conquer any obstacle.
"He was very modest about his abilities," Brown said. "I'd get kids with so much ability, but little effort. There were kids with the effort, but no ability. (Jacoby) was neither. He had the ability and he worked at it."
A shooting guard, Jacoby was the Buffalos' go-to scorer. Quick off the ball and possessing extraordinary vertical skills, he was unstoppable on the hardwood.
Thus, Jacoby's day of sporting the infamous pink shorts was a "really big deal," according to Brown.
The team had a tradition that required the athlete with the lowest production to put on a pair of pink shorts during practice. Coach Brown still tells his players of that rare day when Jacoby put on the pink.
Years later, mere moments before taking batting practice at Fenway Park in Boston, Ellsbury still had a reasonable explanation for the "pink shorts" incident.
It wasn't a case of him having the lowest production, but rather a referee having it out for him.
"I had a couple fouls," remembered Jacoby, letting out a laugh. "The referee called me for traveling three consecutive times down the court. I didn't think I was traveling. I did it all year and nobody called it on me. So, I had a few words for (the ref). The next foul was my (second) technical ... So I got the pink shorts the next day."
Pink shorts or not, Ellsbury made sure to clarify that his production wasn't down. Always the perfectionist.
And soon after graduating high school in 2002, the perfectionist became a professional.
The next step to the majors
Ellsbury turned down an offer from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during his senior year of high school, setting the stage for the Red Sox' first-round selection three years later.
Chosen 23rd overall during the 2005 First-Year Amateur Draft, the Sox granted Ellsbury a $1.4 million signing bonus — just for writing his name. Not bad for a 22-year-old only three years into his enrollment at Oregon State University.
"Here's a young superstar, but here's also a kid who we've seen growing up," uncle Art said. "He was an instant millionaire in college ... I mean, my goodness."
A financial boost such as Jacoby's could overwhelm the average young adult. But, lucky for Jacoby, he grew up with values that prepared him for such an achievement.
"We'd always try to buy (Jacoby) stuff, but he wouldn't take it. He was always thrifty with his money," Art said "His dad was that way. His dad kind of grew up taking care of his mom, in turn, taking care of money. I can see that in his son."
Jacoby stormed through the Red Sox minor league system within two seasons. He dazzled fans with his base-stealing and impressed coaches with a maturity seldom seen at his age.
On June 30, 2007, Jacoby made his first appearance on the big league stage, starting in center field for the Red Sox as they battled the Texas Rangers.
As a member of the Colorado Indian Tribes, and born an American Indian of Navajo descent, he was the first of his kind.
What could come as a surprise to many fans, though, is that Jacoby was unaware of his historical status while breaking into the big leagues.
"I didn't know (of being the first Navajo) until I found out in the paper," Jacoby said. "I think it's pretty neat. I'm surprised there hasn't been one before."
Jacoby never tracked his status or followed his career from an outsider's perspective. He remained focused while fine-tuning his craft.
And most important, he remained true to his family.
"He loves his family," Emily Allison said. "When we're with him, he's right there in the group. He's not separated from us. I don't think he'll ever be that way. That's just the way he was taught."
A new Navajo hero
While Jacoby continues to focus on his career, his proud family is busy tracking the new Navajo hero.
Emily McCabe Allison logs onto the Internet a handful of times per day. She runs a "Curley-McCabe" family Web site, which has garnered the attention of more than 300 members of the extended family. Relatives ranging from Los Angeles to New Hampshire to Florida post anecdotes for the rest of the family to view. It's an interactive family tree, of sorts.
The Web site is so popular that Emily holds an annual award ceremony that highlights the year's best posts and honors family-related feats.
Emily said, with little hesitation, that Jacoby has been dominating her site's coverage as of late.
"Everyone just goes wild for him," Emily said while perusing the Web site's latest entries. "I keep everyone together, I feel it's a responsibility to keep track of Jacoby's news coverage. He's always topping the headlines."
The site's home page features a picture of Jacoby sliding into home plate, just escaping the tag of New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. Immediately below the striking image of speed, a flood of posts fills the remainder of the page. Each post is from a different Curley-McCabe family member located somewhere in the United States.
Barbara Goodluck, Jacoby's cousin, in Albuquerque wrote:
"I'm really proud of our nephew. There are many more Navajo people who are becoming aware of this fantastic young man."
Cousin Robert Daniels, of Tucson, Ariz., an engineer with a knack for physics commented on the aforementioned photo:
"What's amazing about this play is that he scored from first base off a single. I can't begin to share with anyone how fast a person has to be to do such a thing."
And it isn't just Navajo adults catching wind of the great Jacoby.
"He's got a lot of fans from the Navajo youth," Emily said. "He's got fans in Shiprock, Farmington ... they're all very excited."
Three of those young fans live in Farmington. They are Kody, 8, Kowyn, 7, and Kailey, 3. They're Emily and Art's grandchildren, who frequently pay visits to 5 Star Security, where Emily updates her Web site.
When the three children see pictures on the Internet or on television, they point to the big leaguer and say, "Jacoby." Even Kailey, the 3-year-old, recognizes the player wearing the "B" on his hat.
It's Jacoby Ellsbury, the Navajo Nation's first big leaguer.
"Instead of I want to be like Mike,' they want to be like Jacoby," Emily said.