How did Elijah "Pumpsie" Green get his nickname?

looney_tunes

'According to Green himself in the fantastic baseball book "We Played The Game," his mother gave him the nickname. From the context, it seems to have been a childhood name.' This is the closest I can get, since I cannot locate an online version of the book referred to. http://www.ultimatemets.com/profile.php?PlayerCode=0047&tabno=7 Oct 14 10, 4:03 AM

Zbeckabee

Now 75, retired with his wife, Marie, a long-time educator, and living in the northern California area where he grew up, Green remains “Pumpsie.” The nickname was given to him by his mother, Gladys, for reasons lost to time. “For whatever reason,” he said, “it stuck. If someone called me Elijah, I probably wouldn’t even turn around.” http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ge-pumpsiegreen041709 He was born Elijah Jerry Green October 27, 1933 in Oakland, California, and grew up in Richmond, California, where baseball was a natural part of life. All the kids in his area, the young and old, men and women, everybody played baseball. “Pumpsie” was the nickname his mother gave him when he was a couple of years old. http://www.baseballsavvy.com/archive/w_pumpsie.html Another twist: "'Coach Green' was one of my high school baseball coaches at Berkeley High School (Berkeley, CA) in the early 80's. It was my understanding that he got the nickname "Pumpsie" because he always pumped his mitt with his fist much like what a catcher might do. Coach Green is still in Berkeley, CA and my folks still bump into him from time to time. He's probably one of the nicest guys I know." http://www.diamondfans.com/profile-greenp.html Oct 14 10, 7:12 AM