First-time feature filmmaker Radice is based in Austin and has been working on this since reading Ellis’ biography ten years ago. The documentary about Ellis is clearly a labor of love. When he died in 2008 from complications from liver disease, he was far too young but had left an indelible mark. He would eventually get straight and after retiring from the game became a counselor to major league players and helped many of them get rehabilitated. However, his drug abuse and sometimes distracting behavior undoubtedly shortened his major league career. He was known to argue with management when he felt he was in the right, sometimes stridently. He was in the line-up when the Pirates dressed an entirely non-white team, the first time in Major League Baseball history that had been achieved. Use of the drug was widespread in Major League Baseball and while the MLB continues to have drug issues (mainly with steroids), recreational drug use is apparently not nearly as common in the majors as it was back then.Įllis was also known for being a proponent for players’ rights, particularly those of African-American descent. The main offender and Ellis’ usual drug of choice was dexomyl, an amphetamine commonly known as greenies is the locker room. What is not in dispute is that drug abuse was rampant in the major leagues at the time. Corroborating evidence has been hard to find but in fairness, neither has any information disproving the story.
#DOCK ELLIS LSD GAME DOCUMENTARY FULL#
Now, while the film doesn’t really cover this, it should be said in the interest of full disclosure that there are some who dispute this, including the beat writer for the Pittsburgh Press, Bill Christine, who was at the game and knew the team well. Ellis famously pitched his no-hitter while under the influence of LSD. Unfortunately powerful individualists in the 70s were attracted to recreational drug use. Both on and off the field he spoke out against what he thought was wrong. Outside the stadium he was the paragon of style and fashion inside he was a dogged competitor. He was kind of a Superfly with a great slider. Baseball is full of characters who march to their own drummer but Ellis was one of a kind. He pitched his last game in 1979 and his glory years were from 1970-76, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates but also with the New York Yankees (he also pitched for the New York Mets, the Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers).ĭuring his time in the game, Ellis was an impressive figure. Looking back through the eyes of someone who was in his prime then and turned out to be a much more important influence than you could imagine, I can see that the 70s were far from boring.ĭock Ellis is probably not that well-known outside of baseball fans and knowledgeable baseball fans at that. Many point to the 60s as being a far more fascinating decade but the 70s had its share of difficult times. Directed by Jeff RadiceĪs someone who lived through the 70s, I can tell you that I never thought them particularly turbulent or interesting. (2014) Documentary (Arts + Labor) Dock Ellis, Steve Blass, Willie Stargell, Ron Howard, Bruce Kison, Mudcat Grant, Dave Cash, Al Oliver. Dock Ellis makes his pitch at Wrigley Field, Chicago.