He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, California Angels, and Chicago White Sox.

[1] After the 1967 season, on November 29, 1967, Ellis was traded to the California Angels for pitchers Bill Kelso and Jorge Rubio.

[1] On January 20, 1969, Ellis was traded to the Chicago White Sox for right fielder Bill Voss and minor leaguer Andy Rubilotta.

[8] Sinkerball pitcher Tommy John credited Ellis with helping him work out some problems with his delivery in 1982.

[9] Ellis was a long time resident of Temple Terrace, Florida, where he died from cancer on May 13, 2016, at the age of 75.