Earl Rapp
Encyclopedia
Earl Wellington "Rappy" Rapp (May 20, 1921 in Corunna, Michigan
- February 13, 1992 in Swedesboro, New Jersey
) was a 6'2", 185 pound Major League Baseball
outfielder who played in 1949 and from 1951 to 1952 for the Detroit Tigers
, Chicago White Sox
, New York Giants
, St. Louis Browns
and Washington Senators
.
Rapp, whose father was a plant inspector, went to high school in Swedesboro, New Jersey, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track.
He was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies
in 1940. Before the 1941 season, he was sent to the Boston Red Sox
in an unknown transaction. In June of that year, the Red Sox sent him to the Tigers in another unknown transaction. He then spent many years in the minor leagues, missing 1943 to 1945 due to military service.
In 1948, Rapp hit .298 with 17 home runs and 96 RBI for the Seattle Rainiers
. Prior to getting the call up to the majors in 1949, he hit .340 with 15 home runs and 86 RBI for the Oakland Oaks.
On April 28, 1949, he made his major league debut. He had one at-bat, drawing a walk. On May 7, 1949, he was traded to the White Sox for Don Kolloway
. With the White Sox, he hit .259 in 19 games. He was sent to the Oakland Oaks
on June 11 of that season to complete an earlier trade involving Jerry Scala
and Catfish Metkovich
. In 1950, he hit .347 with 24 home runs and 145 RBI for Oakland.
On July 1, 1951, Rapp was sent by the Oaks to the Giants for Spider Jorgensen and Red Hardy
. He played in 13 games for the Giants, collecting 1 hit in 11 at-bats for a .091 batting average. He was selected off waivers by the Browns on September 1 of that year, and in 98 at-bats with them he hit .327 with two home runs and 15 RBI. Overall, he hit .303 in 109 at-bats that season. With the Oaks that year, he hit .322 with 10 homers and 74 RBI.
Despite having a solid run with the Browns in 1951, Rapp did not perform well for them in 1952. In fact, he hit only .143 in 49 at-bats, prompting them to trade him to the Senators for Fred Marsh
on June 10. He wrapped up his career with the Senators, hitting .284 in 67 at-bats with them. Overall, he hit .224 with 13 RBI in 116 at-bats that season. He played his final game on September 23.
In 1953, Rapp hit .311 with 24 home runs and 108 RBI for the San Diego Padres
of the Pacific Coast League
. In 1954, he hit .337 with 24 homers and 111 RBI. In 1955, he hit .302 with 30 home runs and 133 RBI for them. In 1956, he hit .300 with nine home runs and 65 RBI. For the Padres and Portland Beavers
in 1957, he hit .278 with three home runs and 19 RBI.
Overall, Rapp hit .262 in 279 big league at-bats. He hit two home runs and drove 39 runs in. He played for 12 different minor league clubs from 1940 to 1959, and in 12 years at Triple-A he hit .313.
Rapp served as a scout from 1960 to 1989. He was responsible for the signing of Mark Gubicza
. At the time of his death, he was a consultant to the Toronto Blue Jays
.
Following his death, he was interred at St. Joseph Cemetery
in Swedesboro.
Corunna, Michigan
Corunna is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,381. It is the county seat of Shiawassee County. The City of Corunna is located within Caledonia Charter Township, although it is an independent political entity.Michigan Governor Andrew Parsons was...
- February 13, 1992 in Swedesboro, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
) was a 6'2", 185 pound Major League Baseball
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...
outfielder who played in 1949 and from 1951 to 1952 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...
, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, 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....
, St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
and Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.
Rapp, whose father was a plant inspector, went to high school in Swedesboro, New Jersey, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track.
He was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 1940. Before the 1941 season, he was sent to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in an unknown transaction. In June of that year, the Red Sox sent him to the Tigers in another unknown transaction. He then spent many years in the minor leagues, missing 1943 to 1945 due to military service.
In 1948, Rapp hit .298 with 17 home runs and 96 RBI for the Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
. Prior to getting the call up to the majors in 1949, he hit .340 with 15 home runs and 86 RBI for the Oakland Oaks.
On April 28, 1949, he made his major league debut. He had one at-bat, drawing a walk. On May 7, 1949, he was traded to the White Sox for Don Kolloway
Don Kolloway
Donald Martin Kolloway , was a Major League Baseball player who played 12 years as an infielder for the Chicago White Sox , Detroit Tigers , and Philadelphia Athletics .Raised on Chicago's south side, he debuted with the White Sox in 1940...
. With the White Sox, he hit .259 in 19 games. He was sent to the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
on June 11 of that season to complete an earlier trade involving Jerry Scala
Jerry Scala
Gerald Michael Scala was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1948 to 1950 for the Chicago White Sox....
and Catfish Metkovich
Catfish Metkovich
George Michael "Catfish" Metkovich was an American outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox , Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Braves...
. In 1950, he hit .347 with 24 home runs and 145 RBI for Oakland.
On July 1, 1951, Rapp was sent by the Oaks to the Giants for Spider Jorgensen and Red Hardy
Red Hardy
Francis Joseph "Red" Hardy was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the New York Giants in .Prior to playing professionally, he attended University of St...
. He played in 13 games for the Giants, collecting 1 hit in 11 at-bats for a .091 batting average. He was selected off waivers by the Browns on September 1 of that year, and in 98 at-bats with them he hit .327 with two home runs and 15 RBI. Overall, he hit .303 in 109 at-bats that season. With the Oaks that year, he hit .322 with 10 homers and 74 RBI.
Despite having a solid run with the Browns in 1951, Rapp did not perform well for them in 1952. In fact, he hit only .143 in 49 at-bats, prompting them to trade him to the Senators for Fred Marsh
Fred Marsh
Fred Francis Marsh was an American infielder in Major League Baseball who played from to for the Cleveland Indians, St...
on June 10. He wrapped up his career with the Senators, hitting .284 in 67 at-bats with them. Overall, he hit .224 with 13 RBI in 116 at-bats that season. He played his final game on September 23.
In 1953, Rapp hit .311 with 24 home runs and 108 RBI for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres (PCL)
The San Diego Padres were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1936 through 1968. The team that would eventually become the Padres was well traveled prior to moving to San Diego. It began its existence in 1903 as the Sacramento Solons, a charter member of the PCL...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. In 1954, he hit .337 with 24 homers and 111 RBI. In 1955, he hit .302 with 30 home runs and 133 RBI for them. In 1956, he hit .300 with nine home runs and 65 RBI. For the Padres and Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
in 1957, he hit .278 with three home runs and 19 RBI.
Overall, Rapp hit .262 in 279 big league at-bats. He hit two home runs and drove 39 runs in. He played for 12 different minor league clubs from 1940 to 1959, and in 12 years at Triple-A he hit .313.
Rapp served as a scout from 1960 to 1989. He was responsible for the signing of Mark Gubicza
Mark Gubicza
Mark Steven Gubicza is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for 14 seasons for the Kansas City Royals and Anaheim Angels . He currently does color commentary for Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim games on Fox Sports...
. At the time of his death, he was a consultant to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
.
Following his death, he was interred at St. Joseph Cemetery
St. Joseph Cemetery (Swedesboro, New Jersey)
St. Joseph Cemetery is a cemetery located in Swedesboro, New Jersey. One person of note interred there is baseball player Earl Rapp. It was built in the 1860s by the now defunct St. Joseph Church.-External links:*...
in Swedesboro.