Ellis began his MLB career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1968. He quickly established himself as a talented and reliable pitcher, helping the Pirates to win the World Series in 1971. During that season, Ellis won 19 games, the most in his career for a single season. He was also named to the All-Star team that year, one of his two All-Star appearances.
One of the most notable moments in Ellis' career came on June 12, 1970, when he pitched a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres. This feat was made even more remarkable by the fact that Ellis later claimed he was under the influence of LSD during the game. This claim has been the subject of much debate and was the focus of a 2014 documentary film, "No No: A Dockumentary."
Ellis was traded to the New York Yankees in 1975, where he continued to perform well. He won 17 games in his first season with the Yankees and helped the team reach the World Series in 1976. However, his time with the Yankees was also marked by controversy, including a suspension for attempting to hit every batter in the Cincinnati Reds' lineup during a game in 1974.
After leaving the Yankees, Ellis had brief stints with the Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and New York Mets before retiring in 1979. Despite his sometimes controversial career, Ellis was respected for his talent and his willingness to speak out on issues of race and inequality in baseball. He was particularly vocal about the lack of African American managers in the MLB, and he worked as a drug counselor after his retirement, using his own experiences with substance abuse to help others.
Over the course of his career, Ellis won 138 games and had a career earned run average (ERA) of 3.46. He was known for his aggressive pitching style and his ability to perform under pressure. Despite the controversies that sometimes overshadowed his achievements, Ellis remains a significant figure in the history of Major League Baseball.
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