The BYU “Phantom”!

Eldon “The Phantom” Fortie

(5/21/1941 - 1/6/2021)

Middle row, 2nd from the right

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Back in 1973, some friends of mine recruited me to join them to compete on a “City League” men’s softball team in Fullerton, California. That was when I first met “The Phantom”. But I only knew him as “Eldon”.

Although we each had previously played football at BYU (I had played my last game at BYU in 1970, Eldon in 1962), we never seemed to talk with each other about that common experience. In fact, until I recently read his obituary, I did not know that his nickname was “The Phantom” and how he got it. I did not know that he was the first BYU player to have his jersey number permanently retired! All I knew was that Eldon was a wonderful teammate, a great athlete and a relentless competitor. He was a pleasure to be around.

I would like to just share a memory or two of my time with Eldon as softball teammates. Of course Eldon most certainly was the fastest, quickest and likely most nimble member of our team. He was a natural middle-infielder and could turn the double-play in his sleep whether he was the shortstop or at second base.

He was a “line-drive” hitter and seldom if ever, hit for a single (unless it was a ground ball to an infielder that for one of the rest of us would be an out, but for him would be a hit after a close play a first). Which is to say, if he hit the ball out of the infield, it was at least a double, period! He was that fast!

I remember one particular game when Eldon was playing shortstop and I was our first basemen. No one was on base and the batter must have been the biggest guy on their team (at least 250 pounds). He hit the first pitch. It was a ground ball between short and third. Of course Eldon was on it! He back handed the ball, planted his feet and proceeded to launch a throw, this time a wild throw up the first base line.

I knew I would not be able to catch the ball without leaving first base and moving up the first base line towards home plate. As I pulled my foot off the bag I was able to catch the ball only after fully extending myself. Instantly, I realized that catching the ball was only relevant if I were to survive the collision that was about to occur as the over-sized batter prepared to use his momentum & mass to separate me from the ball (and perhaps even separate me from my shoes, teeth & etc.)!

As the runner barreled down on me, my linebacker instincts took over. I assumed a “hitting position” knowing that leverage was “everything”. I made sure to make contact below his center of gravity. As his inertia took him over the top of my crouched position, I recoiled with all the strength my young legs could deliver and sent the oversized base runner head over heals past first base.

With the game ball securely in my glove the whole time, the runner was out!

As is customary after each out with no runners on base, I prepared to throw the ball “around the infield” starting with my throw to the shortstop, Eldon. As I looked his way and prepared to throw him the ball, his strange facial expressions caused me to stop what I was doing and just stare at him. He then “mouthed” something like “nice hit”! Perhaps followed by “sorry about that throw”!

It’s been over forty-years since I last saw Eldon. I’ll see him again soon enough. Until then, may “The Phantom” Rest In Peace!

Ted D. Nelson

1/15/2021