Nick Cullop (outfielder)
Encyclopedia
Henry Nicholas Cullop was an American
outfielder
in Major League Baseball
during the 1920s and 1930s. Cullop was better known, however, as a feared batsman in minor league baseball
and as a longtime manager
at the minor league level. He is the all-time minor league RBI king. He is not related to pitcher
Nick Cullop
.
, as Heinrich Nicholas Kolop, Cullop began his professional career as a pitcher
, second baseman
and outfielder
for the Madison
Greys of the Class D South Dakota League in . A right-handed batter and thrower, he hit
.341 in 66 games. Although he was primarily an outfielder, Cullop continued to pitch sporadically through , compiling a 49-50 record in 140 minor league games.
However, Cullop made his name as a batter. In , he swatted 40 home run
s and compiled 155 runs batted in
with the Omaha Packers
of the Class A Western League
; the following season, , he led the Southern Association
with 30 home runs as a member of the Atlanta Crackers
. His prodigious hitting led to major league trials with the New York Yankees
, Washington Senators
, Cleveland Indians
, Brooklyn Robins
and Cincinnati Reds
(-27
; -30
-31
). In 173 games over all or parts of those seasons, Cullop batted only .249 with 11 home runs and 67 RBI.
But at the minor league level, he was a terror. Cullop's best season was in 1930 with the Minneapolis Millers
of the American Association
. He batted .359 and led the Association in runs scored
(150), homers (54) and RBI (152). He played through , and overall he batted .312, made 2,670 hits, slugged 420 homers and drove in 1,857 RBI in 2,484 minor league games.
He began a 17-year minor league managing career with the Asheville Tourists
of the Class B Piedmont League
in . He won two regular-season pennants and three playoff championships in leagues ranging from Class C to Class AAA, before he retired from managing in .
Cullop was nicknamed "Tomato Face" because his face turned bright red whenever he got angry.
Cullop died at age 78 in Westerville, Ohio
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
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...
during the 1920s and 1930s. Cullop was better known, however, as a feared batsman in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
and as a longtime manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
at the minor league level. He is the all-time minor league RBI king. He is not related to pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Nick Cullop
Nick Cullop (pitcher)
Norman Andrew "Nick" Cullop was a starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball between and . A native of Chilhowie, Virginia, Cullop batted and threw left-handed...
.
Biography
Born in Weldon Spring, MissouriWeldon Spring, Missouri
Weldon Spring is a city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 5,270 at the 2000 census. The city is named for its first settler, North Carolina frontiersman John Weldon, who in 1790 built a log home overlooking the spring which bears his name.-Geography:Weldon Spring...
, as Heinrich Nicholas Kolop, Cullop began his professional career as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Madison
Madison, South Dakota
Madison is a city in Lake County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 6,474 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lake County and is home to Dakota State University.-Geography:Madison is located at ....
Greys of the Class D South Dakota League in . A right-handed batter and thrower, he hit
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 :...
.341 in 66 games. Although he was primarily an outfielder, Cullop continued to pitch sporadically through , compiling a 49-50 record in 140 minor league games.
However, Cullop made his name as a batter. In , he swatted 40 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...
s and compiled 155 runs batted in
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...
with the Omaha Packers
Omaha Cardinals
The Omaha Cardinals was the name of the minor league baseball club based in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, from 1947 through 1959. It played in the Class A Western League through 1954 and in the AAA American Association from 1955-59 as an affiliate of its major league namesake, the St...
of the Class A Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
; the following season, , he led 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...
with 30 home runs as a member of 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....
. His prodigious hitting led to major league trials with the 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...
, 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...
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Brooklyn Robins
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...
and 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....
(-27
1927 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*Murderers' Row lead New York Yankees to World Series victory.*Babe Ruth hits 60 home runs.-Champions:* World Series: New York Yankees over Pittsburgh Pirates...
; -30
1930 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: Philadelphia Athletics over St. Louis Cardinals -Statistical leaders:1Single season record for RBIs-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Negro National League final standings:...
-31
1931 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Philadelphia Athletics -Awards and honors:*MLB Most Valuable Player Award** Lefty Grove, Philadelphia Athletics, P** Frankie Frisch, St...
). In 173 games over all or parts of those seasons, Cullop batted only .249 with 11 home runs and 67 RBI.
But at the minor league level, he was a terror. Cullop's best season was in 1930 with the Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
. He batted .359 and led the Association in runs scored
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...
(150), homers (54) and RBI (152). He played through , and overall he batted .312, made 2,670 hits, slugged 420 homers and drove in 1,857 RBI in 2,484 minor league games.
He began a 17-year minor league managing career with the Asheville Tourists
Asheville Tourists
The Asheville Tourists are a minor league baseball team based in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. They play in the Class A South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since 1994....
of the Class B Piedmont League
Piedmont League
The Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the Piedmont plateau region in the eastern United States.- Former :...
in . He won two regular-season pennants and three playoff championships in leagues ranging from Class C to Class AAA, before he retired from managing in .
Cullop was nicknamed "Tomato Face" because his face turned bright red whenever he got angry.
Cullop died at age 78 in Westerville, Ohio
Westerville, Ohio
Westerville, once known as "The Dry Capital of the World", is a city in Franklin and Delaware counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 35,318 at the 2000 census.-Early history:...
.