Harry Chapman (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Harry E. Chapman was a professional baseball
player. He played all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball
for the Chicago Cubs
, Cincinnati Reds
, St. Louis Terriers
, and St. Louis Browns, primarily as a catcher
. He saw the majority of his action as a backup backstop for the Terriers in the Federal League
.
' season, and went 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI
. On December 15 that offseason, Chapman was traded by the Cubs, along with Grover Lowdermilk
and future Hall of Famer Joe Tinker
, to the Cincinnati Reds
for five players. Chapman, however, played with the minor-league Atlanta Crackers
for much of 1913. He made two pinch-hitting appearances for the Reds that season, singling and striking out.
in 1914, signing with the St. Louis Terriers
. He played with them for both seasons of their existence, backing up Mike Simon
and Grover Hartley
. In 1914, Chapman hit .210 in 64 games with two doubles, a triple, and 14 RBI
. In 1915, Chapman had the experience of playing for the league champions and had a somewhat more successful season himself, hitting .199 in 62 games with six doubles, three triples, one home run, and 29 RBI. His home run, the only such hit of his career, came off Baltimore's George Suggs
.
purchased Chapman's rights from the Terriers. However, his time with the Browns resulted in numbers well below his career averages, as Chapman hit just .097 (3 for 31) in 18 games with no extra-base hits or RBI. He played his final major league game on July 19 that season.
Chapman spent the last two seasons of his career toiling for the Little Rock Travelers
of the Southern Association
, playing a career-high 131 games in 1917. He died at age 30 in Nevada, Missouri
, October 21, 1918, from injuries sustained serving in the military during World War I
.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He played all or part of five seasons in 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...
for the 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...
, 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....
, St. Louis Terriers
St. Louis Terriers
The St. Louis Terriers were a baseball club that played in the short-lived Federal League in and . They played their home games at Handlan's Park. The St. Louis Chapter of SABR placed a marker at the site of Handland's Park, now on the campus of St. Louis University, on October 17, 2007. The team...
, and St. Louis Browns, primarily as a 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 saw the majority of his action as a backup backstop for the Terriers in the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
.
Early career
Chapman made his debut on October 6, 1912, the final game of the Chicago CubsChicago 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...
' season, and went 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. On December 15 that offseason, Chapman was traded by the Cubs, along with Grover Lowdermilk
Grover Lowdermilk
Grover Cleveland "Slim" Lowdermilk was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1909 to 1920, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox...
and future Hall of Famer Joe Tinker
Joe Tinker
Joseph Bert Tinker was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He is best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs dynasty which won four pennants between 1906 and 1910; and for his feud with double play partner Johnny Evers. Tinker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in...
, to 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....
for five players. Chapman, however, played with the minor-league 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....
for much of 1913. He made two pinch-hitting appearances for the Reds that season, singling and striking out.
Federal League
The catcher was one of many MLB players to jump to the upstart Federal LeagueFederal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
in 1914, signing with the St. Louis Terriers
St. Louis Terriers
The St. Louis Terriers were a baseball club that played in the short-lived Federal League in and . They played their home games at Handlan's Park. The St. Louis Chapter of SABR placed a marker at the site of Handland's Park, now on the campus of St. Louis University, on October 17, 2007. The team...
. He played with them for both seasons of their existence, backing up Mike Simon
Mike Simon
Mike Simon was a catcher in Major League Baseball between 1909 and 1915.-Sources:...
and Grover Hartley
Grover Hartley
Grover Allen Hartley was a backup catcher in Major League Baseball. From 1911 through 1934, he played for the New York Giants , St. Louis Terriers , St. Louis Browns , Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians . Hartley batted and threw right-handed...
. In 1914, Chapman hit .210 in 64 games with two doubles, a triple, and 14 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. In 1915, Chapman had the experience of playing for the league champions and had a somewhat more successful season himself, hitting .199 in 62 games with six doubles, three triples, one home run, and 29 RBI. His home run, the only such hit of his career, came off Baltimore's George Suggs
George Suggs
George Franklin Suggs was a major league baseball pitcher....
.
Later career
Just before the dissolution of the Federal League, the St. Louis BrownsBaltimore 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...
purchased Chapman's rights from the Terriers. However, his time with the Browns resulted in numbers well below his career averages, as Chapman hit just .097 (3 for 31) in 18 games with no extra-base hits or RBI. He played his final major league game on July 19 that season.
Chapman spent the last two seasons of his career toiling for the Little Rock Travelers
Little Rock Travelers
The Little Rock Travelers were an American minor league baseball team located in Little Rock, Arkansas and members of the Southern Association, which as a Class A, A1 or AA circuit was typically two rungs below Major League Baseball...
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...
, playing a career-high 131 games in 1917. He died at age 30 in Nevada, Missouri
Nevada, Missouri
Nevada is a city in Vernon County, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,327 at the 2011 census. It is the county seat of Vernon County. Nevada is the home of Cottey College, a junior college for women operated by the P.E.O. Sisterhood....
, October 21, 1918, from injuries sustained serving in the military during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.