Vern Rapp
Encyclopedia
Vernon Fred Rapp is a retired Major League Baseball
manager
and coach
. A career minor league
catcher
and a successful skipper in the minors, Rapp had two brief tours of duty as a big league manager.
, Rapp signed his first playing contract out of high school in with his hometown St. Louis Cardinals
. A right-handed batter and thrower, he reached the triple A level with the Columbus Red Birds
in , but never made it to the major leagues. After missing two seasons due to military service during the Korean War
, Rapp was released by the Cardinals in , and signed with the independent Charleston Senators
of the American Association
for the season. The experience provided him his first managing job, when, at age 27, he succeeded Danny Murtaugh
as field boss of the last-place Senators. As player-manager, Rapp guided his club to only 19 victories in 59 games.
The following season, Rapp joined the New York Giants
organization, and batted .302 with eleven home run
s for their triple A affiliate, the Minneapolis Millers
. After spending with the Louisville Colonels
, Rapp became a player/coach with the Denver Bears. Denver was a New York Yankees
affiliate when he joined the club in , and he remained with them through , by which time they were a Detroit Tigers
affiliate. During three seasons with the Denver Bears, he became associated with Denver owner Bob Howsam
, who would play an influential role later in Rapp's career.
Vernon Fred Rapp (born May 11, 1928) is a retired Major League Baseball
manager
and coach
. A career minor league
catcher
and a successful skipper in the minors, Rapp had two brief tours of duty as a big league manager.
, Rapp signed his first playing contract out of high school in with his hometown St. Louis Cardinals
. A right-handed batter and thrower, he reached the triple A level with the Columbus Red Birds
in , but never made it to the major leagues. After missing two seasons due to military service during the Korean War
, Rapp was released by the Cardinals in , and signed with the independent Charleston Senators
of the American Association
for the season. The experience provided him his first managing job, when, at age 27, he succeeded Danny Murtaugh
as field boss of the last-place Senators. As player-manager, Rapp guided his club to only 19 victories in 59 games.
The following season, Rapp joined the New York Giants
organization, and batted .302 with eleven home run
s for their triple A affiliate, the Minneapolis Millers
. After spending with the Louisville Colonels
, Rapp became a player/coach with the Denver Bears. Denver was a New York Yankees
affiliate when he joined the club in , and he remained with them through , by which time they were a Detroit Tigers
affiliate. During three seasons with the Denver Bears, he became associated with Denver owner Bob Howsam
, who would play an influential role later in Rapp's career.
Vernon Fred Rapp (born May 11, 1928) is a retired Major League Baseball
manager
and coach
. A career minor league
catcher
and a successful skipper in the minors, Rapp had two brief tours of duty as a big league manager.
, Rapp signed his first playing contract out of high school in with his hometown St. Louis Cardinals
. A right-handed batter and thrower, he reached the triple A level with the Columbus Red Birds
in , but never made it to the major leagues. After missing two seasons due to military service during the Korean War
, Rapp was released by the Cardinals in , and signed with the independent Charleston Senators
of the American Association
for the season. The experience provided him his first managing job, when, at age 27, he succeeded Danny Murtaugh
as field boss of the last-place Senators. As player-manager, Rapp guided his club to only 19 victories in 59 games.
The following season, Rapp joined the New York Giants
organization, and batted .302 with eleven home run
s for their triple A affiliate, the Minneapolis Millers
. After spending with the Louisville Colonels
, Rapp became a player/coach with the Denver Bears. Denver was a New York Yankees
affiliate when he joined the club in , and he remained with them through , by which time they were a Detroit Tigers
affiliate. During three seasons with the Denver Bears, he became associated with Denver owner Bob Howsam
, who would play an influential role later in Rapp's career.
While managing the Modesto Reds in and the Denver Bears in , Rapp inserted himself into the line-up as a pinch hitter
once each season, getting a hit both times. He also made two pitching appearances with Modesto in 1961 without giving up a run. With the Arkansas Travelers
in , Rapp actually started a game, and pitched two innings. He also got a double
in his only at-bat of the game.
, and guided them to a 57-82 record. He was promoted to the class B Greensboro Yankees in , where he managed Roy White
and Mel Stottlemyre
among other future major leaguers.
After spending two years out of baseball, he rejoined the Cardinals in — now led by GM Howsam — as manager of their Class double A Tulsa Oilers and Arkansas Travelers affiliates. In , Howsam, by now running the Cincinnati Reds
, hired Rapp as manager of the triple A Indianapolis Indians
, and in seven years Rapp won two American Association pennants there. He returned to Denver and continued his success in 1976 as manager of the Bears (by then a farm team of the Montreal Expos
), winning both the regular season Association pennant and playoff championship.
, a longtime favorite as a Redbird player and pilot. While the 1977 Cardinals improved by eleven games and placed third in the National League East
, Rapp's disciplinarian, minor league style of managing made him very unpopular with his players, particularly Al Hrabosky
. Hrabosky was ordered to shave his trademark "Fu Manchu
" mustache, which was part of the carefully cultivated "Mad Hungarian" persona that he felt helped make him an effective closer
. Hrabosky later said that being beardless made him feel "like a soldier going to war without his rifle," and demanded a trade following one season without facial hair courtesy of Rapp's rule against it.
When the Cards suffered through a seven game losing streak that saw their record fall to 5-11 early in the season, Rapp was fired April 25 following a win at Olympic Stadium
against the Expos. Coach Jack Krol
succeeded him for two games, but another former Cardinal star, Ken Boyer
, was ticketed for the permanent job.
star Carl Yastrzemski
, the producers of Boston
phone-in radio show The Sports Huddle on radio station
WHDH, decided to do a satirical tribute to Rapp, who also planned to retire at the end of the season after five years as first-base coach of the Montreal Expos (-1983). On October 2, the last day of the regular season, they proceeded with their tongue in cheek tribute to Rapp, including a mock telethon in which phone callers were invited to pledge money to Rapp's retirement fund (a substantial sum was actually pledged, though no money was collected), and a song to the tune of Bye Bye Birdie ("Bye Bye Vern Rapp").
The program turned out to be anything but a spoof, though. Cardinal broadcaster Mike Shannon spoke admiringly of the man, and Rapp, reached by telephone in Montreal
, was choked up by the whole affair. WHDH also conducted a telephone interview with Sheldon Bender, vice-president of player personnel for the Cincinnati Reds. Until the station called, Bender was unaware that Rapp was leaving the Expos. Bender suggested Rapp at a meeting the next day at which the Reds' bosses were discussing whether to fire Manager Russ Nixon
. One thing led to another, and Rapp received a surprise phone call from Howsam, who had returned from his own retirement to try to arrest the declining fortunes of the Reds.
Bender admitted "Vern wasn't a candidate for the job until the station called." Rapp decided that managing the Reds was worth unretiring for, and accepted the job on October 5. WHDH sent Rapp the cassette recording of what turned out to be a most momentous broadcast.
in Wrigley Field
, Reds pitcher
Mario Soto
shoved third base umpire
Steve Rippley for incorrectly calling a long foul ball
down the left field line hit by Cubs third baseman
Ron Cey
a home run. After conferring, the umpires changed their decision and ruled it a foul ball. However, for shoving Rippley, Soto was ejected, prompting him to charge the field and attack Cubs coach Don Zimmer
, which triggered a ten-minute bench-clearing brawl
.
The Reds won the game, completing a three game sweep of the Cubs, and followed that with a two game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates
. The next day, National League president Chub Feeney
suspended Soto five games for the incident on the 27th.
The Reds lost fourteen of their next seventeen, and had fallen ten games back of the San Diego Padres
when a second incident involving Soto occurred on June 16. Leading off the fifth inning, Soto threw several brushback pitch
es at Atlanta Braves
slugger Claudell Washington
, who had homered in his last at-bat. Washington tossed his bat in the direction of Soto, appeared to go out to retrieve it, but instead walked toward the mound. Umpire Lanny Harris attempted to restrain Washington, but was thrown to the ground. Soto used the distraction to punch Washington. Several of Washington's teammates attempted to hold Washington to the ground. While they were doing that, Soto fired the baseball into the crowd of players, striking Braves coach Joe Pignatano
. He was suspended three games for this incident; Washington received a five-game suspension for shoving Lanny Harris.
Following an 8-19 month of July, Rapp was on thin ice, and when Cincinnati icon Pete Rose
was acquired from the Expos on August 15, he was named the Reds' playing manager. Rapp was fired with a record of 51-70 while the Reds were on the road in St. Louis. His career MLB managerial record was 140 wins in 300 games, for a winning percentage of .467.
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...
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...
and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. A career minor league
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...
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...
and a successful skipper in the minors, Rapp had two brief tours of duty as a big league manager.
Minor League playing career
Born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Rapp signed his first playing contract out of high school in with his hometown St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. A right-handed batter and thrower, he reached the triple A level with the Columbus Red Birds
Columbus Red Birds
The Columbus Red Birds was the name of a top-level minor league baseball team that played in Columbus, Ohio, in the American Association from 1931 through 1954. The Columbus club, a member of the Association continuously since 1902, was previously known as the Columbus Senators — a typical...
in , but never made it to the major leagues. After missing two seasons due to military service during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Rapp was released by the Cardinals in , and signed with the independent Charleston Senators
Charleston Senators
The Charleston Senators were an American minor league baseball team based in Charleston, West Virginia. They were the first professional baseball team to play in Charleston, beginning play in 1910. The team was inactive during a few periods, playing their last game in 1960....
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...
for the season. The experience provided him his first managing job, when, at age 27, he succeeded Danny Murtaugh
Danny Murtaugh
Daniel Edward Murtaugh was an American second baseman, manager, front-office executive and coach in Major League Baseball best known for his 29-year association with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a player and manager...
as field boss of the last-place Senators. As player-manager, Rapp guided his club to only 19 victories in 59 games.
The following season, Rapp joined 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....
organization, and batted .302 with eleven 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 for their triple A affiliate, 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...
. After spending with the Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
, Rapp became a player/coach with the Denver Bears. Denver was a 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...
affiliate when he joined the club in , and he remained with them through , by which time they were a 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...
affiliate. During three seasons with the Denver Bears, he became associated with Denver owner Bob Howsam
Bob Howsam
Robert Lee Howsam was an executive in American professional sport who, in 1959, played a key role in establishing two leagues — the American Football League, which succeeded and merged with the National Football League, and baseball's Continental League, which never played a game but forced...
, who would play an influential role later in Rapp's career.
Vernon Fred Rapp (born May 11, 1928) is a retired 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...
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...
and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. A career minor league
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...
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...
and a successful skipper in the minors, Rapp had two brief tours of duty as a big league manager.
Minor League playing career
Born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Rapp signed his first playing contract out of high school in with his hometown St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. A right-handed batter and thrower, he reached the triple A level with the Columbus Red Birds
Columbus Red Birds
The Columbus Red Birds was the name of a top-level minor league baseball team that played in Columbus, Ohio, in the American Association from 1931 through 1954. The Columbus club, a member of the Association continuously since 1902, was previously known as the Columbus Senators — a typical...
in , but never made it to the major leagues. After missing two seasons due to military service during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Rapp was released by the Cardinals in , and signed with the independent Charleston Senators
Charleston Senators
The Charleston Senators were an American minor league baseball team based in Charleston, West Virginia. They were the first professional baseball team to play in Charleston, beginning play in 1910. The team was inactive during a few periods, playing their last game in 1960....
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...
for the season. The experience provided him his first managing job, when, at age 27, he succeeded Danny Murtaugh
Danny Murtaugh
Daniel Edward Murtaugh was an American second baseman, manager, front-office executive and coach in Major League Baseball best known for his 29-year association with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a player and manager...
as field boss of the last-place Senators. As player-manager, Rapp guided his club to only 19 victories in 59 games.
The following season, Rapp joined 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....
organization, and batted .302 with eleven 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 for their triple A affiliate, 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...
. After spending with the Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
, Rapp became a player/coach with the Denver Bears. Denver was a 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...
affiliate when he joined the club in , and he remained with them through , by which time they were a 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...
affiliate. During three seasons with the Denver Bears, he became associated with Denver owner Bob Howsam
Bob Howsam
Robert Lee Howsam was an executive in American professional sport who, in 1959, played a key role in establishing two leagues — the American Football League, which succeeded and merged with the National Football League, and baseball's Continental League, which never played a game but forced...
, who would play an influential role later in Rapp's career.
Vernon Fred Rapp (born May 11, 1928) is a retired 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...
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...
and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. A career minor league
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...
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...
and a successful skipper in the minors, Rapp had two brief tours of duty as a big league manager.
Minor League playing career
Born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Rapp signed his first playing contract out of high school in with his hometown St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. A right-handed batter and thrower, he reached the triple A level with the Columbus Red Birds
Columbus Red Birds
The Columbus Red Birds was the name of a top-level minor league baseball team that played in Columbus, Ohio, in the American Association from 1931 through 1954. The Columbus club, a member of the Association continuously since 1902, was previously known as the Columbus Senators — a typical...
in , but never made it to the major leagues. After missing two seasons due to military service during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Rapp was released by the Cardinals in , and signed with the independent Charleston Senators
Charleston Senators
The Charleston Senators were an American minor league baseball team based in Charleston, West Virginia. They were the first professional baseball team to play in Charleston, beginning play in 1910. The team was inactive during a few periods, playing their last game in 1960....
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...
for the season. The experience provided him his first managing job, when, at age 27, he succeeded Danny Murtaugh
Danny Murtaugh
Daniel Edward Murtaugh was an American second baseman, manager, front-office executive and coach in Major League Baseball best known for his 29-year association with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a player and manager...
as field boss of the last-place Senators. As player-manager, Rapp guided his club to only 19 victories in 59 games.
The following season, Rapp joined 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....
organization, and batted .302 with eleven 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 for their triple A affiliate, 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...
. After spending with the Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
, Rapp became a player/coach with the Denver Bears. Denver was a 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...
affiliate when he joined the club in , and he remained with them through , by which time they were a 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...
affiliate. During three seasons with the Denver Bears, he became associated with Denver owner Bob Howsam
Bob Howsam
Robert Lee Howsam was an executive in American professional sport who, in 1959, played a key role in establishing two leagues — the American Football League, which succeeded and merged with the National Football League, and baseball's Continental League, which never played a game but forced...
, who would play an influential role later in Rapp's career.
| Seasons | Games | AB | Hits | 2B | 3B | HR | Avg. | Slg. | TB |
| 16 | 1016 | 2974 | 792 | 139 | 45 | 84 | .266 | .428 | 1273 |
While managing the Modesto Reds in and the Denver Bears in , Rapp inserted himself into the line-up as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
once each season, getting a hit both times. He also made two pitching appearances with Modesto in 1961 without giving up a run. With the Arkansas Travelers
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....
in , Rapp actually started a game, and pitched two innings. He also got a 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....
in his only at-bat of the game.
Minor League manager
In 1961, Rapp became manager of the Yankees' class C affiliate, the Modesto RedsModesto Nuts
The Modesto Nuts are a minor league baseball team in Modesto, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Colorado Rockies. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats 4,000 fans...
, and guided them to a 57-82 record. He was promoted to the class B Greensboro Yankees in , where he managed Roy White
Roy White
Roy Hilton White is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the New York Yankees between 1965 and 1979....
and Mel Stottlemyre
Mel Stottlemyre
Melvin Leon Stottlemyre, Sr. is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and pitching coach. He played 11 years in the Major Leagues, all of them with the New York Yankees...
among other future major leaguers.
After spending two years out of baseball, he rejoined the Cardinals in — now led by GM Howsam — as manager of their Class double A Tulsa Oilers and Arkansas Travelers affiliates. In , Howsam, by now running 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....
, hired Rapp as manager of the triple A Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, and in seven years Rapp won two American Association pennants there. He returned to Denver and continued his success in 1976 as manager of the Bears (by then a farm team of the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
), winning both the regular season Association pennant and playoff championship.
St. Louis Cardinals
His success in Denver led to his hiring as Cardinals' manager for . Rapp took over after the twelve-year reign of Red SchoendienstRed Schoendienst
Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American Major League Baseball coach, former player and manager, and 10-time All-star. After a 19-year playing career with the St...
, a longtime favorite as a Redbird player and pilot. While the 1977 Cardinals improved by eleven games and placed third in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
, Rapp's disciplinarian, minor league style of managing made him very unpopular with his players, particularly Al Hrabosky
Al Hrabosky
Alan Thomas "Al" Hrabosky is a former Major League Baseball player from - for the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves and is currently the color commentator on Cardinals regular season broadcasts on FSN Midwest...
. Hrabosky was ordered to shave his trademark "Fu Manchu
Fu Manchu
Dr. Fu Manchu is a fictional character introduced in a series of novels by British author Sax Rohmer during the first half of the 20th century...
" mustache, which was part of the carefully cultivated "Mad Hungarian" persona that he felt helped make him an effective closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
. Hrabosky later said that being beardless made him feel "like a soldier going to war without his rifle," and demanded a trade following one season without facial hair courtesy of Rapp's rule against it.
When the Cards suffered through a seven game losing streak that saw their record fall to 5-11 early in the season, Rapp was fired April 25 following a win at Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium
The Olympic Stadium is the name usually given to the big centrepiece stadium of the Summer Olympic Games. Traditionally, the opening and closing ceremonies and the track and field competitions are held in the Olympic Stadium. Many, though not all, of these venues actually contain the words Olympic...
against the Expos. Coach Jack Krol
Jack Krol
John Thomas Krol was an American coach and manager in Major League Baseball.Primarily a second baseman and shortstop, the right-handed hitting and throwing Krol never reached the major leagues during his playing career . The native of Chicago, Illinois spent most of that period in the St...
succeeded him for two games, but another former Cardinal star, Ken Boyer
Ken Boyer
Kenton Lloyd Boyer was an American Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. During a 15-year baseball career, he played for 1955-1969 for four different teams, playing primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals...
, was ticketed for the permanent job.
The Sports Huddle, WHDH in Boston
Inspired by the outpouring of tributes lavished on retiring Boston Red SoxBoston 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"...
star Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
, the producers of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
phone-in radio show The Sports Huddle on radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
WHDH, decided to do a satirical tribute to Rapp, who also planned to retire at the end of the season after five years as first-base coach of the Montreal Expos (-1983). On October 2, the last day of the regular season, they proceeded with their tongue in cheek tribute to Rapp, including a mock telethon in which phone callers were invited to pledge money to Rapp's retirement fund (a substantial sum was actually pledged, though no money was collected), and a song to the tune of Bye Bye Birdie ("Bye Bye Vern Rapp").
The program turned out to be anything but a spoof, though. Cardinal broadcaster Mike Shannon spoke admiringly of the man, and Rapp, reached by telephone in Montreal
Montreal
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 choked up by the whole affair. WHDH also conducted a telephone interview with Sheldon Bender, vice-president of player personnel for the Cincinnati Reds. Until the station called, Bender was unaware that Rapp was leaving the Expos. Bender suggested Rapp at a meeting the next day at which the Reds' bosses were discussing whether to fire Manager Russ Nixon
Russ Nixon
Russell Eugene Nixon is a former catcher, coach and manager in American Major League Baseball. A veteran of 55 years in professional baseball, Nixon has managed at virtually every level of the sport, from the lowest minor league to MLB assignments with the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves...
. One thing led to another, and Rapp received a surprise phone call from Howsam, who had returned from his own retirement to try to arrest the declining fortunes of the Reds.
Bender admitted "Vern wasn't a candidate for the job until the station called." Rapp decided that managing the Reds was worth unretiring for, and accepted the job on October 5. WHDH sent Rapp the cassette recording of what turned out to be a most momentous broadcast.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds were only a half game back of first place with a 23-22 record, when things began to unravel. On May 27 against 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...
in Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
, Reds 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...
Mario Soto
Mario Soto (baseball)
Mario Melvin Soto , is a former Major League pitcher, mostly as a starter, for the Cincinnati Reds from through . He currently works in the Reds' front office.-Major league career:...
shoved third base umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
Steve Rippley for incorrectly calling a long foul ball
Foul ball
In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that:* Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base, or* Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or...
down the left field line hit by Cubs third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Ron Cey
Ron Cey
Ronald Charles Cey |Washington]]) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics . Cey batted and threw right-handed...
a home run. After conferring, the umpires changed their decision and ruled it a foul ball. However, for shoving Rippley, Soto was ejected, prompting him to charge the field and attack Cubs coach Don Zimmer
Don Zimmer
Donald William "Popeye" Zimmer is a former infielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball, currently serving as a senior advisor to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball organization...
, which triggered a ten-minute bench-clearing brawl
Bench-clearing brawl
A bench-clearing brawl, sometimes known as a basebrawl or a rhubarb, is a form of ritualistic fighting that occurs in sports, most notably baseball and ice hockey, in which every player on both teams leave their dugouts, bullpens, or benches and charge the playing area in order to fight one...
.
The Reds won the game, completing a three game sweep of the Cubs, and followed that with a two game sweep of the 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...
. The next day, National League president Chub Feeney
Chub Feeney
Charles Stoneham "Chub" Feeney was an American front office executive in Major League Baseball and president of the National League during a 40-plus year career in baseball....
suspended Soto five games for the incident on the 27th.
The Reds lost fourteen of their next seventeen, and had fallen ten games back of the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
when a second incident involving Soto occurred on June 16. Leading off the fifth inning, Soto threw several brushback pitch
Brushback pitch
In baseball, a brushback pitch is a pitch thrown high and inside, usually a fastball, to force the batter away from the plate, often to intimidate. It differs from the beanball in that the intent is not to hit the batter, or intentionally throw at the batter's head...
es at Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
slugger Claudell Washington
Claudell Washington
Claudell Washington is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Oakland Athletics , Texas Rangers , Chicago White Sox , New York Mets , Atlanta Braves , New York Yankees and California Angels...
, who had homered in his last at-bat. Washington tossed his bat in the direction of Soto, appeared to go out to retrieve it, but instead walked toward the mound. Umpire Lanny Harris attempted to restrain Washington, but was thrown to the ground. Soto used the distraction to punch Washington. Several of Washington's teammates attempted to hold Washington to the ground. While they were doing that, Soto fired the baseball into the crowd of players, striking Braves coach Joe Pignatano
Joe Pignatano
Joseph Benjamin Pignatano was a catcher in Major League Baseball. He played from 1957-1962.He played in the 1959 World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers and ended his playing career with the New York Mets, hitting into a triple play in his final Major League at bat.After his playing career...
. He was suspended three games for this incident; Washington received a five-game suspension for shoving Lanny Harris.
Following an 8-19 month of July, Rapp was on thin ice, and when Cincinnati icon Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
was acquired from the Expos on August 15, he was named the Reds' playing manager. Rapp was fired with a record of 51-70 while the Reds were on the road in St. Louis. His career MLB managerial record was 140 wins in 300 games, for a winning percentage of .467.
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