Aubrey Epps
Encyclopedia
Aubrey Lee Epps was a former Major League Baseball
catcher
. He was born on March 3, 1912, in Memphis, Tennessee
. He batted and threw right handed, was 5 foot 10, and 170 pounds. Yo-Yo played just one major league game in his career, but he played well, going 3 for 4 (a .750 average) with 3 RBIs in his only major league game, playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates
on September 29, 1935. Epps died on November 13, 1984 in Ackerman, Mississippi
.
Epps started his professional career in the minor leagues in 1933, splitting a partial season with six games at Longview of the Class C Dixie League
and 30 games with the Birmingham Barons
of the Class A Southern Association
. In 1934, his first full season, he played 152 games for the Barons, finishing the season with three home runs and a .301 batting average. The Pittsburgh Pirates
acquired Epps from the Barons in September 1934, under a deal in which Epps would finish the season with the Barons, would not play outfield and would be used exclusively as a catcher and would report to the Pirate's spring training camp in California in advance of the 1935 season. Epps split his 1935 minor league season, playing 59 games with the Barons and 26 with Fort Worth of the Class A Texas League
, finishing with an overall .288 batting average in the minors that season.
In the final game of the 1935 season, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds
, Epps played catcher and went 3 for 4, with two singles, a triple and three runs batted in, to go along with two errors, as the Pirates lost their season finale to the Reds by a score of 9–6. While the Pirates had high hopes for Epps, this one game turned out to be the only major league game of his career.
Epps underwent a tonsillectomy
in mid-October 1935, expecting to see his health improve towards earning a spot as the Pirates' starting catcher in the 1936 season. However, Epps experienced hemorrhages that forced him back into the hospital in critical condition two days later, with his breathing impairment leading to pneumonia
and his placement under an oxygen tent
. By the end of December 1935, Epps had been released from the hospital and was recovering in his home in Memphis, Tennessee
, with his doctor telling him that he should avoid spending time outdoors until warmer weather arrived. Epps informed Pirates management in a letter to team president Bill Benswanger
of his status and said that he expected to be with the team when it opened training camp. By the time the Pirates players reported to San Antonio, Texas
for spring training in March 1936, Epps was on the team's roster, hoping to make a comeback as catcher, having recovered from his pneumonia.
Epps played another six seasons in the minor leagues, playing in the organizations of the Pirates, New York Yankees
, New York Giants
and Chicago Cubs
, but never played another major league game before leaving professional baseball after the 1941 season.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
. He was born on March 3, 1912, in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. He batted and threw right handed, was 5 foot 10, and 170 pounds. Yo-Yo played just one major league game in his career, but he played well, going 3 for 4 (a .750 average) with 3 RBIs in his only major league game, playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
on September 29, 1935. Epps died on November 13, 1984 in Ackerman, Mississippi
Ackerman, Mississippi
Ackerman is a town in Choctaw County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,696 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Choctaw County.It is named for an early landowner.-Geography:Ackerman is located at ....
.
Epps started his professional career in the minor leagues in 1933, splitting a partial season with six games at Longview of the Class C Dixie League
Dixie League (1933 baseball)
The Dixie League was a class C baseball league formed in 1933, with teams based in the US states of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas. After one season of competition, the Dixie League was split into the East Dixie and West Dixie leagues, both of them competing in the 1934 and 1935 seasons....
and 30 games with the Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
of the Class A Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
. In 1934, his first full season, he played 152 games for the Barons, finishing the season with three home runs and a .301 batting average. The Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
acquired Epps from the Barons in September 1934, under a deal in which Epps would finish the season with the Barons, would not play outfield and would be used exclusively as a catcher and would report to the Pirate's spring training camp in California in advance of the 1935 season. Epps split his 1935 minor league season, playing 59 games with the Barons and 26 with Fort Worth of the Class A Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, finishing with an overall .288 batting average in the minors that season.
In the final game of the 1935 season, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Epps played catcher and went 3 for 4, with two singles, a triple and three runs batted in, to go along with two errors, as the Pirates lost their season finale to the Reds by a score of 9–6. While the Pirates had high hopes for Epps, this one game turned out to be the only major league game of his career.
Epps underwent a tonsillectomy
Tonsillectomy
A tonsillectomy is a 3,000-year-old surgical procedure in which the tonsils are removed from either side of the throat. The procedure is performed in response to cases of repeated occurrence of acute tonsillitis or adenoiditis, obstructive sleep apnea, nasal airway obstruction, snoring, or...
in mid-October 1935, expecting to see his health improve towards earning a spot as the Pirates' starting catcher in the 1936 season. However, Epps experienced hemorrhages that forced him back into the hospital in critical condition two days later, with his breathing impairment leading to pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and his placement under an oxygen tent
Oxygen tent
thumb|300pxAn oxygen tent consists of a canopy placed over the head and shoulders or over the entire body of a patient to provide oxygen at a higher level than normal.Oxygen tents are also used by athletes-see altitude tents.-External links:*...
. By the end of December 1935, Epps had been released from the hospital and was recovering in his home in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, with his doctor telling him that he should avoid spending time outdoors until warmer weather arrived. Epps informed Pirates management in a letter to team president Bill Benswanger
Bill Benswanger
Bill Benswanger was president of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team of the National League from through . Benswanger became involved in baseball through his marriage to Eleanor Fanny Dreyfuss, the daughter of longtime Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss...
of his status and said that he expected to be with the team when it opened training camp. By the time the Pirates players reported to San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
for spring training in March 1936, Epps was on the team's roster, hoping to make a comeback as catcher, having recovered from his pneumonia.
Epps played another six seasons in the minor leagues, playing in the organizations of the Pirates, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, but never played another major league game before leaving professional baseball after the 1941 season.