Cliff Dapper
Encyclopedia
Clifford Roland Dapper was a Major League Baseball
catcher
who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers
during the 1942 season. Listed at 6'2", 190 lbs., he batted and threw right handed.
Born in Los Angeles, California
, Dapper began his baseball career began at age 18 for Class-B Bellingham Chinooks in the Western International League
. With many players unavailable due to World War II
, Dapper got his shot at the majors in April 1942, appearing in eight games for Brooklyn. He connected eight hits in 17 at-bats for a .471 batting average
, including a home run
, one double
, two runs
and nine RBI. Despite his hot hitting, Dapper was unable to dislodge all-star Mickey Owen
from the catcher's position for the Dodgers, and he was returned to the minors. Later that season he was drafted, and missed the 1943-45 seasons while serving in the South Pacific during World War II
.
Following his military discharge, Dapper returned to baseball as a player and then manager, helming Pittsburgh Pirates
farm clubs in Eugene, Oregon
, and Billings, Montana
, all while still an active player. He eventually played 1,623 minor-league games over a twenty-year span, hitting .274 and 102 homers before retiring in 1957, the same year that his former team, the Dodgers, would move to his home town of Los Angeles.
Following his baseball career, Dapper settled in Fallbrook, California
, where he bought a ranch along former Dodgers teammate Duke Snider
where they made a substantial living farming avocados and lemons on 60 acres.
Dapper died at his home of Fallbrook, California, at the age of 91.
, was sent to the Atlanta Crackers
of the Southern Association
in exchange for Ernie Harwell
, so that Harwell could substitute for ailing Dodger broadcaster Red Barber
. Dapper batted .280 for the Crackers and took over as the club's manager. Harwell left the Dodgers after the 1949 season and was replaced by Vin Scully
, and went on to a Hall of Fame career as a broadcaster, mostly for the Detroit Tigers
. Harwell and Dapper would not meet for over half a century, when Dapper came to Comerica Park
on September 15, 2002, when Harwell's statue was unveiled.
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...
who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
during the 1942 season. Listed at 6'2", 190 lbs., he batted and threw right handed.
Born in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Dapper began his baseball career began at age 18 for Class-B Bellingham Chinooks in the Western International League
Western International League
The Western International League was a mid- to higher-level circuit in American and Canadian minor league baseball. It operated in 1923, 1937-42, and 1946-54. In 1955, it changed its name to the Northwest League, and still operates today as a Short Season A loop under that name.The WIL consisted of...
. With many players unavailable due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Dapper got his shot at the majors in April 1942, appearing in eight games for Brooklyn. He connected eight hits in 17 at-bats for a .471 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, including a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, one double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, two runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and nine RBI. Despite his hot hitting, Dapper was unable to dislodge all-star Mickey Owen
Mickey Owen
Arnold Malcolm "Mickey" Owen was a catcher for St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball. Between 1937 and 1954, Owen played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Brooklyn Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox...
from the catcher's position for the Dodgers, and he was returned to the minors. Later that season he was drafted, and missed the 1943-45 seasons while serving in the South Pacific during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Following his military discharge, Dapper returned to baseball as a player and then manager, helming 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...
farm clubs in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, and Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
, all while still an active player. He eventually played 1,623 minor-league games over a twenty-year span, hitting .274 and 102 homers before retiring in 1957, the same year that his former team, the Dodgers, would move to his home town of Los Angeles.
Following his baseball career, Dapper settled in Fallbrook, California
Fallbrook, California
Fallbrook is an unincorporated community in northern San Diego County, California. The Fallbrook census-designated place population was 30,534 at the 2010 census, up from 29,100 at the 2000 census....
, where he bought a ranch along former Dodgers teammate Duke Snider
Duke Snider
Edwin Donald "Duke" Snider , nicknamed "The Silver Fox" and "The Duke of Flatbush", was a Major League Baseball center fielder and left-handed batter who played for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers , New York Mets , and San Francisco Giants .Snider was elected to the National Baseball Hall of...
where they made a substantial living farming avocados and lemons on 60 acres.
Dapper died at his home of Fallbrook, California, at the age of 91.
Traded for Ernie Harwell
Dapper held the unique distinction of being traded for an announcer. In 1948, Dapper, then with the Dodgers' top farm club in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, was sent to the Atlanta Crackers
Atlanta Crackers
The Atlanta Crackers were minor league baseball teams based in Atlanta, Georgia, between 1901 and 1965. The Crackers were Atlanta's home team until the Atlanta Braves moved from Milwaukee in 1966....
of the 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 exchange for Ernie Harwell
Ernie Harwell
William Earnest "Ernie" Harwell was an American sportscaster, known for his long career calling play-by-play of Major League Baseball games. For 55 years, 42 of them with the Detroit Tigers, Harwell called the action on radio and/or television...
, so that Harwell could substitute for ailing Dodger broadcaster Red Barber
Red Barber
Walter Lanier "Red" Barber was an American sportscaster.Barber, nicknamed "The Ol' Redhead", was primarily identified with radio broadcasts of Major League Baseball, calling play-by-play across four decades with the Cincinnati Reds , Brooklyn Dodgers , and New York Yankees...
. Dapper batted .280 for the Crackers and took over as the club's manager. Harwell left the Dodgers after the 1949 season and was replaced by Vin Scully
Vin Scully
Vincent Edward Scully is an American sportscaster, known primarily as the play-by-play voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team on Prime Ticket, KCAL-TV and KABC radio...
, and went on to a Hall of Fame career as a broadcaster, mostly for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Harwell and Dapper would not meet for over half a century, when Dapper came to Comerica Park
Comerica Park
Comerica Park is an open-air ballpark located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It serves as the home of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball's American League, replacing historic Tiger Stadium in 2000....
on September 15, 2002, when Harwell's statue was unveiled.