Jack Lapp
Encyclopedia
John Walker Lapp was a professional baseball
player who played catcher
in the major leagues from 1908 to 1916. He played for the Chicago White Sox
and Philadelphia Athletics.
Jack Lapp was a second or third string catcher for eight of his nine years in the big leagues (seven with Philadelphia and one with Chicago). He did catch 503 games in his career, so he wasn't exactly "riding the pines" for all those years.
In 1911, the Athletics' first string catcher was Ira Thomas
with Paddy Livingston
and Jack Lapp backing him up. Philadelphia played the New York Giants
in the World Series
(http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1911ws.shtml), which went six games with the A's winning. Ira Thomas caught the first two games and was "slightly injured" in the 7th inning of game 2. Paddy Livingston, who had been a key figure during the regular season, was suffering from injuries to his legs, arms, and hands. He did not play in the Series.
Jack Lapp was called on to catch Game 3 (10/17/1911) which lasted 11 innings. He set the catcher record for a single game catching base stealers with five and he had fourteen putouts. Ira Thomas came on to catch Game 4, a nine-inning affair that had Thomas limping by the end. Lapp was called upon to catch Game 5 (10/25/1911), which lasted 10 innings. He "only" caught one base stealer and only had four putouts in that game. Thomas caught Game 6 for a Philadelphia series victory.
The next year (1912), Jack Lapp split catching with Ira Thomas and Ben Egan
, but Lapp caught the majority of the games (83) and led all of the A.L. catchers in "range" and "throwing".
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player who played 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...
in the major leagues from 1908 to 1916. He played for the 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...
and Philadelphia Athletics.
Jack Lapp was a second or third string catcher for eight of his nine years in the big leagues (seven with Philadelphia and one with Chicago). He did catch 503 games in his career, so he wasn't exactly "riding the pines" for all those years.
In 1911, the Athletics' first string catcher was Ira Thomas
Ira Thomas
Ira Felix Thomas was an American professional baseball player. He played all or part of ten in Major League Baseball, all in the American League, with the New York Highlanders , Detroit Tigers , and Philadelphia Athletics , primarily as a catcher.Thomas was born in Ballston Spa, New York, and...
with Paddy Livingston
Paddy Livingston
Patrick Joseph Livingston was a Major League Baseball catcher who played for seven seasons. He played for the Cleveland Blues in 1901, the Cincinnati Reds in 1906, the Philadelphia Athletics from 1909 to 1911, the Cleveland Naps in 1912, and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1917...
and Jack Lapp backing him up. Philadelphia played the 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....
in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
(http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1911ws.shtml), which went six games with the A's winning. Ira Thomas caught the first two games and was "slightly injured" in the 7th inning of game 2. Paddy Livingston, who had been a key figure during the regular season, was suffering from injuries to his legs, arms, and hands. He did not play in the Series.
Jack Lapp was called on to catch Game 3 (10/17/1911) which lasted 11 innings. He set the catcher record for a single game catching base stealers with five and he had fourteen putouts. Ira Thomas came on to catch Game 4, a nine-inning affair that had Thomas limping by the end. Lapp was called upon to catch Game 5 (10/25/1911), which lasted 10 innings. He "only" caught one base stealer and only had four putouts in that game. Thomas caught Game 6 for a Philadelphia series victory.
The next year (1912), Jack Lapp split catching with Ira Thomas and Ben Egan
Ben Egan
Arthur Augustus "Ben" Egan was an American professional baseball catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Indians from 1908 to 1915. He was later a coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1925 and the Chicago White Sox in 1926.-External links:...
, but Lapp caught the majority of the games (83) and led all of the A.L. catchers in "range" and "throwing".