Position: pitcher Bats: right Throws: right

Elijah was born in Gardendale, Alabama in 1934. He moved to Birmingham by age six and attended W.C. Davis Elementary School. It was here that he began playing baseball with his classmates and friends. Gilliam eventually joined with the Birmingham Browns, a local sand lot team, where he felt he could play more competitively. After Elijah completed grade school, he attended Ullman High School, where he would later graduate. He fondly remembers his favorite teacher, Miss Mitchell. She took an interest in his educational development and encouraged his baseball interest. He, like all young boys his age, had a childhood hero; Willie Mays and Roy Campanella shared that role in Gilliam's life.

It was in 1953 that Elijah's journey began. It started with a trip to the "Big Apple" where his sister was getting married and he was asked to give her away. While here in New York, Elijah would unexpectedly take the first bite of his baseball career.

Gilliam often strolled through Central Park. One afternoon he stopped to watch a baseball team called the Central Park Pearls practice. One of the players hollered over at Gilliam and jokingly asked him if he could play. Elijah didn't have to think twice, he jumped up, picked up the ball and headed for the pitchers mound. He needed to warm up his arm so he threw a few pitches at about three quarters speed. When Elijah felt ready he let it all hang out and launched a barrage of fastballs. This team was quite impressed and Gilliam instantly gained their respect - they gave him his uniform right there on the spot and that day he became a Pearl.

It wasn't long after joining the Pearls, that he was scouted and signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers Organization. Elijah created some of his fondest memories here, playing baseball with some of the finest players of that era. Elijah's arm was injured and he was unable to pitch. This ended his career with the Dodgers Organization and initiated his return to his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.

By 1958, Gilliam proudly wore jersey number 17, where he pitched for the Birmingham Black Barons for three seasons. He spent the 1961 season with the number 19 on his back, and pitching for the Raleigh Tigers. It was during this season, that this 6 foot, 7 inch, pitcher started in the Negro Leagues East-West All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium in New York. This was a monumental experience for Gilliam as he was selected to be the starting pitcher opposite Satchel Page and the West All Stars.

The most ironic thing for Elijah Gilliam though, was that the game was played in New York. It seemed appropriate for it to end where it all began.