Editing Dock Ellis (section)

===Minor league career (1964–1968)===
While Ellis attended LAHC, various [[Major League Baseball]] teams attempted to sign him to a professional contract, but as he heard the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] gave out [[signing bonus]]es of $60,000, he held out until the Pirates made him an offer.<ref name="high times"/> He was arrested for [[Motor vehicle theft|stealing a car]], and given probation.<ref name="high times"/> Brewer, working as a [[scout (sport)|scout]] for the Pirates, signed Ellis to the Pirates; as a result of the arrest, the Pirates offered Ellis $500 a month and a $2,500 signing bonus.<ref name="high times"/>

Ellis played for the [[Batavia Pirates]] of the [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] [[New York–Pennsylvania League]] in 1964. The next season, he played for the [[Kinston Expos|Kinston Eagles]] of the Class A [[Carolina League]]<ref name="kinston">{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mfEuAAAAIBAJ&pg=4954,4790987&dq=dock-ellis+kinston | title=Bucs, Phils Battle For Fifth Place | work=Beaver County Times | date=July 26, 1965 | agency=[[United Press International]] | access-date=July 25, 2012 | page=14}}</ref> and the [[Columbus Jets]] of the [[Class AAA]] [[International League]].<ref name=columbus1965>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3Z1RAAAAIBAJ&pg=3955,675986&dq=dock-ellis+columbus|title=Bucs Acquire Trio From Columbus Farm|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|page=26|date=October 5, 1965|access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> Ellis pitched in an exhibition game for the Pirates against the [[Cleveland Indians]] in July, earning the win.<ref name=kinston/> After the season, the Pirates added Ellis to their [[40-man roster]].<ref name=columbus1965/>

In 1966, Ellis played for the [[Asheville Tourists]] of the [[Class AA]] [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]], pitching to a 10–9 [[Win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]], a 2.77 [[earned run average]] (ERA),<ref name=callup/> and an All-Star Game appearance.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BiEsAAAAIBAJ&pg=3783,1293775&dq=dock-ellis+asheville|title=Mobile's League Leaders Rap Southern All-Stars|newspaper=Times Daily|page=11|date=August 9, 1966|access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> The Pirates called Ellis up to the majors near the end of the season, but the team did not use him in a game that year.<ref name=callup>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BKhWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2973,5431331&dq=dock-ellis+asheville|title=Bucs Call Dock Ellis|agency=United Press International|page=9|newspaper=The News-Dispatch|location=[[Jeannette, Pennsylvania]]|date=September 6, 1966|access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref>

Ellis started the 1967 season with Columbus. He believed that he was not on the major league club because the Pirates already had a number of African American players; he felt that the team did not want to alienate [[white people|white]] fans.<ref name="baseball142">{{Harvnb|Hall|Ellis|1989|p=142}}</ref> Ellis was sent down to the [[Macon Peaches]] of the Southern League,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n7AfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3216,2733569&dq=dock-ellis+macon|title=Evansville, Rebs Battle For Lead|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Gadsden Times|page=12|date=June 21, 1967|access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> which Ellis believed was because of the length of his hair. Ellis said that he was promoted back to Columbus after shaving his head.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hall|Ellis|1989|p=143}}</ref> He had a 2–0 win–loss record with Macon and a 5–7 record with Columbus.<ref name=holdout/>

During his minor league career, Ellis once chased a heckler in the stands with a baseball bat.<ref name="couldn't pitch without pills"/> He also used pills when he pitched, specifically the [[amphetamine]]s [[Benzedrine]] and [[Dexamyl]].<ref name="couldn't pitch without pills"/> Stressed by the pressure of his "can't-miss" status as a prospect, Ellis became addicted.<ref name="couldn't pitch without pills"/> He later said that he never pitched a game without using amphetamines.<ref name="couldn't pitch without pills"/> He eventually needed {{convert|70|to(-)|85|mg}} per game, or between five and twelve capsules, depending on their strength.<ref name="high times"/> Ellis acknowledged that he began to use [[cocaine]] in the late 1960s.<ref name=lat1990/>

Ellis held out from the Pirates in February 1968;<ref name=holdout>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6XgqAAAAIBAJ&pg=5577,2606163&dq=dock-ellis|title=Dock Ellis First Holdout For Brown: Pirate Rookie Dissatisfied, Stays Home|newspaper=[[The Pittsburgh Press]]|page=27|date=February 22, 1968|access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> he came to terms with the team in March.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5SVIAAAAIBAJ&pg=1847,23928&dq=dock-ellis+macon|title=Clemente Reports|newspaper=The Morning Record|agency=Associated Press|page=4|date=March 2, 1968|access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> The Pirates optioned Ellis to Columbus,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OYBhAAAAIBAJ&pg=2414,4913707&dq=dock-ellis|title=Bucs Send 3 to Minors|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=St. Joseph News-Press|page=2B|date=March 28, 1968|access-date=July 26, 2012}}</ref> who moved Ellis from the starting rotation to the [[bullpen]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z-xOAAAAIBAJ&pg=7199,5128336&dq=dock-ellis+macon|title=Jets Not Set For Quick Takeoff Because of Hurling Problems|first=Tom|last=Keyes|newspaper=[[Toledo Blade]]|location=[[Toledo, Ohio]]|page=25|date=April 23, 1968|access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> At Columbus, Ellis credited his work with manager [[Johnny Pesky]] and pitching coach [[Harvey Haddix]] for improving his performance.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hall|Ellis|1989|pp=145-146}}</ref>