Houston Chronicle (TX) - Friday, December 24, 1993
Deceased Name: Longtime Astros trainer Ewell dead after suffering heart attack
Jim "Doc" Ewell, whose career as an athletic trainer spanned more than 50 years, died Thursday morning at Methodist Hospital.
Ewell, 74, suffered a massive heart attack after undergoing colon surgery Tuesday, according to Astros general manager Bob Watson.
Ewell had been with the Houston baseball franchise as a trainer since its inception in 1962. At the time of his death, his title was trainer emeritus. He traveled with the team throughout the 1993 season, his 41st in major-league baseball, but was scheduled to have a reduction in his workload next season, working only home games.
"I've been with the man a long, long time," said Watson, who met Ewell as a player with the Astros in 1966. "I know he kept me on the field a lot of times. He touched a lot of lives on and off the field. It'll be a big loss around here."
Before joining the Houston team, he was a trainer with the Kansas City Athletics from 1955-61 and New York Yankees from 1950-54. Ewell was one of the most diversified trainers in the nation, working with athletes in boxing, basketball, hockey, golf and tennis in addition to baseball.
The athletes with whom Ewell worked included track star Jesse Owens, baseball's Joe DiMaggio, hockey's Gordie Howe, basketball's Wilt Chamberlain, boxing's Muhammad Ali and gymnast Cathy Rigby.
But it was baseball that was Ewell's first love and lifelong passion. During leisure moments in spring training, Ewell would regale reporters with stories about the way baseball was when he broke in during the late 1930s.
Ewell's first job was with the Norfolk, Va., team in the Piedmont League in 1938. Ewell was a native of Norfolk and often spoke of how he learned the etiquette of baseball as a teen-ager working for his hometown team.
"I learned early that the job of the trainer was to keep his team on the field," Ewell said. "That was his only job. Everything else, you just kept your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut."
Ewell often spoke of how he wanted to write a book detailing his association with athletes during his long and varied career. But because he would not "dish the dirt" about any athlete, he realized there probably would be no interest in the book.
During World War II, Ewell served as a trainer for military baseball, basketball and football teams. Shortly after his release from the service he was hired by the Yankees, starting his stay in major-league baseball.
During his career, Ewell watched his craft evolve from a rubbing-alcohol-and-tape profession to a computer and high-tech one.
To the end, Ewell remained convinced a vigorous rubdown worked wonders for ailing muscles. Nearly every Astros pitcher due to start a game would seek out Ewell's strong hands for a session before his outing.
Ewell was in the dugout as the trainer for four All-Star Games, dating to 1957. In 1989 he was honored by the Houston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of American for long and meritorious service to baseball.
Ewell is survived by wife Betty, son Bobby, daughter Terri and a grandson. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Settegast-Kopf in Sugar Creek. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Rd., in Sugar Land. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Deceased Name: Longtime Astros trainer Ewell dead after suffering heart attack
Jim "Doc" Ewell, whose career as an athletic trainer spanned more than 50 years, died Thursday morning at Methodist Hospital.
Ewell, 74, suffered a massive heart attack after undergoing colon surgery Tuesday, according to Astros general manager Bob Watson.
Ewell had been with the Houston baseball franchise as a trainer since its inception in 1962. At the time of his death, his title was trainer emeritus. He traveled with the team throughout the 1993 season, his 41st in major-league baseball, but was scheduled to have a reduction in his workload next season, working only home games.
"I've been with the man a long, long time," said Watson, who met Ewell as a player with the Astros in 1966. "I know he kept me on the field a lot of times. He touched a lot of lives on and off the field. It'll be a big loss around here."
Before joining the Houston team, he was a trainer with the Kansas City Athletics from 1955-61 and New York Yankees from 1950-54. Ewell was one of the most diversified trainers in the nation, working with athletes in boxing, basketball, hockey, golf and tennis in addition to baseball.
The athletes with whom Ewell worked included track star Jesse Owens, baseball's Joe DiMaggio, hockey's Gordie Howe, basketball's Wilt Chamberlain, boxing's Muhammad Ali and gymnast Cathy Rigby.
But it was baseball that was Ewell's first love and lifelong passion. During leisure moments in spring training, Ewell would regale reporters with stories about the way baseball was when he broke in during the late 1930s.
Ewell's first job was with the Norfolk, Va., team in the Piedmont League in 1938. Ewell was a native of Norfolk and often spoke of how he learned the etiquette of baseball as a teen-ager working for his hometown team.
"I learned early that the job of the trainer was to keep his team on the field," Ewell said. "That was his only job. Everything else, you just kept your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut."
Ewell often spoke of how he wanted to write a book detailing his association with athletes during his long and varied career. But because he would not "dish the dirt" about any athlete, he realized there probably would be no interest in the book.
During World War II, Ewell served as a trainer for military baseball, basketball and football teams. Shortly after his release from the service he was hired by the Yankees, starting his stay in major-league baseball.
During his career, Ewell watched his craft evolve from a rubbing-alcohol-and-tape profession to a computer and high-tech one.
To the end, Ewell remained convinced a vigorous rubdown worked wonders for ailing muscles. Nearly every Astros pitcher due to start a game would seek out Ewell's strong hands for a session before his outing.
Ewell was in the dugout as the trainer for four All-Star Games, dating to 1957. In 1989 he was honored by the Houston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of American for long and meritorious service to baseball.
Ewell is survived by wife Betty, son Bobby, daughter Terri and a grandson. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Settegast-Kopf in Sugar Creek. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Rd., in Sugar Land. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Houston Chronicle (TX) - Friday, December 24, 1993
Deceased Name: Longtime Astros trainer Ewell dead after suffering heart attack
Jim "Doc" Ewell, whose career as an athletic trainer spanned more than 50 years, died Thursday morning at Methodist Hospital.
Ewell, 74, suffered a massive heart attack after undergoing colon surgery Tuesday, according to Astros general manager Bob Watson.
Ewell had been with the Houston baseball franchise as a trainer since its inception in 1962. At the time of his death, his title was trainer emeritus. He traveled with the team throughout the 1993 season, his 41st in major-league baseball, but was scheduled to have a reduction in his workload next season, working only home games.
"I've been with the man a long, long time," said Watson, who met Ewell as a player with the Astros in 1966. "I know he kept me on the field a lot of times. He touched a lot of lives on and off the field. It'll be a big loss around here."
Before joining the Houston team, he was a trainer with the Kansas City Athletics from 1955-61 and New York Yankees from 1950-54. Ewell was one of the most diversified trainers in the nation, working with athletes in boxing, basketball, hockey, golf and tennis in addition to baseball.
The athletes with whom Ewell worked included track star Jesse Owens, baseball's Joe DiMaggio, hockey's Gordie Howe, basketball's Wilt Chamberlain, boxing's Muhammad Ali and gymnast Cathy Rigby.
But it was baseball that was Ewell's first love and lifelong passion. During leisure moments in spring training, Ewell would regale reporters with stories about the way baseball was when he broke in during the late 1930s.
Ewell's first job was with the Norfolk, Va., team in the Piedmont League in 1938. Ewell was a native of Norfolk and often spoke of how he learned the etiquette of baseball as a teen-ager working for his hometown team.
"I learned early that the job of the trainer was to keep his team on the field," Ewell said. "That was his only job. Everything else, you just kept your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut."
Ewell often spoke of how he wanted to write a book detailing his association with athletes during his long and varied career. But because he would not "dish the dirt" about any athlete, he realized there probably would be no interest in the book.
During World War II, Ewell served as a trainer for military baseball, basketball and football teams. Shortly after his release from the service he was hired by the Yankees, starting his stay in major-league baseball.
During his career, Ewell watched his craft evolve from a rubbing-alcohol-and-tape profession to a computer and high-tech one.
To the end, Ewell remained convinced a vigorous rubdown worked wonders for ailing muscles. Nearly every Astros pitcher due to start a game would seek out Ewell's strong hands for a session before his outing.
Ewell was in the dugout as the trainer for four All-Star Games, dating to 1957. In 1989 he was honored by the Houston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of American for long and meritorious service to baseball.
Ewell is survived by wife Betty, son Bobby, daughter Terri and a grandson. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Settegast-Kopf in Sugar Creek. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Rd., in Sugar Land. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Deceased Name: Longtime Astros trainer Ewell dead after suffering heart attack
Jim "Doc" Ewell, whose career as an athletic trainer spanned more than 50 years, died Thursday morning at Methodist Hospital.
Ewell, 74, suffered a massive heart attack after undergoing colon surgery Tuesday, according to Astros general manager Bob Watson.
Ewell had been with the Houston baseball franchise as a trainer since its inception in 1962. At the time of his death, his title was trainer emeritus. He traveled with the team throughout the 1993 season, his 41st in major-league baseball, but was scheduled to have a reduction in his workload next season, working only home games.
"I've been with the man a long, long time," said Watson, who met Ewell as a player with the Astros in 1966. "I know he kept me on the field a lot of times. He touched a lot of lives on and off the field. It'll be a big loss around here."
Before joining the Houston team, he was a trainer with the Kansas City Athletics from 1955-61 and New York Yankees from 1950-54. Ewell was one of the most diversified trainers in the nation, working with athletes in boxing, basketball, hockey, golf and tennis in addition to baseball.
The athletes with whom Ewell worked included track star Jesse Owens, baseball's Joe DiMaggio, hockey's Gordie Howe, basketball's Wilt Chamberlain, boxing's Muhammad Ali and gymnast Cathy Rigby.
But it was baseball that was Ewell's first love and lifelong passion. During leisure moments in spring training, Ewell would regale reporters with stories about the way baseball was when he broke in during the late 1930s.
Ewell's first job was with the Norfolk, Va., team in the Piedmont League in 1938. Ewell was a native of Norfolk and often spoke of how he learned the etiquette of baseball as a teen-ager working for his hometown team.
"I learned early that the job of the trainer was to keep his team on the field," Ewell said. "That was his only job. Everything else, you just kept your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut."
Ewell often spoke of how he wanted to write a book detailing his association with athletes during his long and varied career. But because he would not "dish the dirt" about any athlete, he realized there probably would be no interest in the book.
During World War II, Ewell served as a trainer for military baseball, basketball and football teams. Shortly after his release from the service he was hired by the Yankees, starting his stay in major-league baseball.
During his career, Ewell watched his craft evolve from a rubbing-alcohol-and-tape profession to a computer and high-tech one.
To the end, Ewell remained convinced a vigorous rubdown worked wonders for ailing muscles. Nearly every Astros pitcher due to start a game would seek out Ewell's strong hands for a session before his outing.
Ewell was in the dugout as the trainer for four All-Star Games, dating to 1957. In 1989 he was honored by the Houston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of American for long and meritorious service to baseball.
Ewell is survived by wife Betty, son Bobby, daughter Terri and a grandson. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Settegast-Kopf in Sugar Creek. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Rd., in Sugar Land. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
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