Jump to content

John Clapp (baseball): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Changed the birthdate from July 17 to July 15, even the footnote used to cite the first paragraphs source said it was July 15. Our family Bible states July 15. A passport application that John Sr. himself completed, states it was July 15.
Removing from Category:19th-century baseball players has subcat using Cat-a-lot
 
(19 intermediate revisions by 18 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American baseball player-manager (1851–1904)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=John Clapp
|name=John Clapp
|image=John Clapp.jpg
|image=John Clapp.jpg
|position=[[Catcher]]
|position=[[Catcher]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]]
|bats=Right
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1851|7|15}}
|birth_date={{Birth date|1851|7|15}}
|birth_place=[[Ithaca, New York]]
|birth_place=[[Ithaca, New York]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1904|12|18|1851|7|17}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1904|12|18|1851|7|17}}
|death_place=[[Ithaca, New York]]
|death_place=[[Ithaca, New York]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 26
|debutdate=April 26
Line 18: Line 20:
|finalteam=New York Gothams
|finalteam=New York Gothams
|statleague = MLB
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average]]
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.283
|stat1value=.283
|stat2label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat2label=[[Home runs]]
|stat2value=275
|stat2value=7
|stat3label=Managerial record
|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=174–273
|stat3value=275
|stat4label=Managerial record
|stat4value=174–273
|teams=
|teams=
'''As player'''
'''As player'''
Line 41: Line 45:
*[[Cleveland Blues (NL)|Cleveland Blues]] ({{Baseball year|1881}})
*[[Cleveland Blues (NL)|Cleveland Blues]] ({{Baseball year|1881}})
*[[New York Gothams]] ({{Baseball year|1883}})
*[[New York Gothams]] ({{Baseball year|1883}})
|highlights=
*1878: Tied for Major League Baseball games played lead (63)
*1881: National League base on balls leader (35)
}}
}}

'''John Edgar Clapp''' (July 15, 1851{{spaced ndash}}December 18, 1904), nicknamed "'''Honest John'''", was a [[professional baseball]] [[player-manager]] whose career spanned 12 seasons, 11 of which were spent with the [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) [[Middletown Mansfields]] (1872), [[Philadelphia Athletics]] (1873–75), [[St. Louis Brown Stockings]] (1876–77), [[Indianapolis Blues]] (1878), [[Buffalo Bisons (NL)|Buffalo Bisons]] (1879), [[Cincinnati Stars]] (1880), [[Cleveland Blues (NL)|Cleveland Blues]] (1881), and [[New York Gothams]] (1883). Clapp, who predominately played as a [[catcher]], also played as an [[outfielder]]. Over his career, Clapp compiled a career [[batting average]] of .283 with 459 [[run (baseball)|runs scored]], 713 [[hit (baseball)|hits]], 92 [[double (baseball)|doubles]], 35 [[triple (baseball)|triples]], 7 [[home run]]s, and 834 [[runs batted in]] (RBI). Over 1,188 [[games played]], Clapp [[strikeout|struck out]] 51 times. Although the majority of his career was spent in the major leagues, Clapp also played two seasons of [[minor league baseball]]. He made his MLB debut at the age of 21 and was listed as standing {{convert|5|ft|7|in|cm}} and weighing {{convert|194|lb|kg}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=112311&c|title=John Clapp|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|accessdate=September 10, 2011}}</ref> His brother, [[Aaron Clapp]], also played one season of MLB for the [[Troy Trojans (MLB team)|Troy Trojans]].
'''John Edgar Clapp''' (July 15, 1851{{spaced ndash}}December 18, 1904), nicknamed "'''Honest John'''", was an American [[professional baseball]] [[player-manager]] whose career spanned 12 seasons, 11 of which were spent with the [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) [[Middletown Mansfields]] (1872), [[Philadelphia Athletics]] (1873–75), [[St. Louis Brown Stockings]] (1876–77), [[Indianapolis Blues]] (1878), [[Buffalo Bisons (NL)|Buffalo Bisons]] (1879), [[Cincinnati Stars]] (1880), [[Cleveland Blues (NL)|Cleveland Blues]] (1881), and [[New York Gothams]] (1883). Clapp, who predominately played as a [[catcher]], also played as an [[outfielder]]. Over his career, Clapp compiled a career [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] of .283 with 459 [[run (baseball)|runs scored]], 713 [[hit (baseball)|hits]], 92 [[double (baseball)|doubles]], 35 [[triple (baseball)|triples]], 7 [[home run]]s, and 834 [[runs batted in]] (RBI). Over 1,188 [[games played]], Clapp [[strikeout|struck out]] 51 times. Although the majority of his career was spent in the major leagues, Clapp also played two seasons of [[minor league baseball]]. He made his MLB debut at the age of 21 and was listed as standing {{convert|5|ft|7|in|cm}} and weighing {{convert|194|lb|kg}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=112311&c |title=John Clapp |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |access-date=September 10, 2011}}</ref> His brother, [[Aaron Clapp]], also played one season of MLB for the [[Troy Trojans (MLB team)|Troy Trojans]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
John Edgar Clapp was born on July 15, 1851, in [[Ithaca, New York]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Gammons|first=Peter|title=The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia|editor=Pete Palmer |editor2=Gary Gillette |editor3=Stuart Shea|publisher=Sterling|year=2006|page=126|isbn=1-4027-3625-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eUe37F9gN00C&source=gbs_navlinks_s}}</ref>
John Edgar Clapp was born on July 15, 1851, in [[Ithaca, New York]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Gammons |first=Peter |title=The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia |editor=Pete Palmer |editor2=Gary Gillette |editor3=Stuart Shea |publisher=Sterling |year=2006 |page=126 |isbn=1-4027-3625-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eUe37F9gN00C}}</ref>


==Professional career==
==Professional career==
In 1872, Clapp began his professional career with the Middletown Mansfields of the [[National Association of Professional Base Ball Players]] (NA). Over 19&nbsp;games played, Clapp batted .278 with one home run and a team-high 30 runs scored while managing the team to a 5–19 record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MAN/1872.shtml|title=1872 Middletown Mansfields Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 10, 2011}}</ref> After the team folded, Clapp joined the Philadelphia Athletics. His single home run tied him for the team-lead along with [[Wes Fisler]], [[Cherokee Fisher]], and [[Tim Murnane]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATH/1873.shtml|title=1873 Middletown Mansfields Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 24, 2011}}</ref> Next season, in 1874, Clapp led the NA in at bats per home run (55); his [[on-base percentage]] (.732) was a career-high, while the Athletics finished the season 33–22, third in the NA, under manager [[Dick McBride]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATH/1874.shtml|title=1874 Middletown Mansfields Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 25, 2011}}</ref> In his final year with the club, Clapp batted .264 with 77 hits and 39 RBI. His [[putout]] total was second in the NA among catchers.
In 1872, Clapp began his professional career with the Middletown Mansfields of the [[National Association of Professional Base Ball Players]] (NA). Over 19&nbsp;games played, Clapp batted .278 with one home run and a team-high 30 runs scored while managing the team to a 5–19 record.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MAN/1872.shtml |title=1872 Middletown Mansfields Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=September 10, 2011}}</ref> After the team folded, Clapp joined the Philadelphia Athletics. His single home run tied him for the team-lead along with [[Wes Fisler]], [[Cherokee Fisher]], and [[Tim Murnane]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATH/1873.shtml |title=1873 Middletown Mansfields Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=September 24, 2011}}</ref> Next season, in 1874, Clapp led the NA in at bats per home run (55); his OPS (.732) was a career-high, while the Athletics finished the season 33–22, third in the NA, under manager [[Dick McBride (baseball)|Dick McBride]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATH/1874.shtml |title=1874 Middletown Mansfields Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=September 25, 2011}}</ref> In his final year with the club, Clapp batted .264 with 77 hits and 39 RBI. His [[putout]] total was second in the NA among catchers.


In 1876, Clapp joined the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the [[National League]] (NL). He finished the year tied for the team lead in games played (64) and hits (91),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/1876.shtml|title=1876 St. Louis Brown Stockings Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 25, 2011}}</ref> while he led the NL in [[putout]]s as a catcher, with 333.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1876-fielding-leaders.shtml|title=1876 National League Fielding Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 25, 2011}}</ref> Next season, Clapp batted a career high .318, while his on-base percentage and [[on-base plus slugging]] percentages were the second highest in his career. In the field, Clapp committed 40 errors as a catcher, second highest in the NL to [[Lew Brown (baseball)|Lew Brown]]'s 49.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1877-fielding-leaders.shtml|title=1877 National League Fielding Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 26, 2011}}</ref> After leaving the team, Clapp joined the Indianapolis Blues, where he served as a player-manager for the 1878 season. Playing primarily in the outfield, Clapp was tied for the MLB lead in games played along with Indianapolis teammates [[Silver Flint]], [[Russ McKelvy]], [[Orator Shafer]], and [[Ned Williamson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/1878-batting-leaders.shtml|title=1878 Major League Baseball Batting Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 26, 2011}}</ref>
In 1876, Clapp joined the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL). He finished the year tied for the team lead in games played (64) and hits (91),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/1876.shtml |title=1876 St. Louis Brown Stockings Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=September 25, 2011}}</ref> while he led the NL in [[putout]]s as a catcher, with 333.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1876-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1876 National League Fielding Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=September 25, 2011}}</ref> Next season, Clapp batted a career high .318, while his on-base percentage and [[on-base plus slugging]] percentages were the second highest in his career. In the field, Clapp committed 40 errors as a catcher, second highest in the NL to [[Lew Brown (baseball)|Lew Brown]]'s 49.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1877-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1877 National League Fielding Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=September 26, 2011}}</ref> After leaving the team, Clapp joined the Indianapolis Blues, where he served as a player-manager for the 1878 season. Playing primarily in the outfield, Clapp was tied for the MLB lead in games played along with Indianapolis teammates [[Silver Flint]], [[Russ McKelvy]], [[Orator Shafer]], and [[Ned Williamson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/1878-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1878 Major League Baseball Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=September 26, 2011}}</ref>


After his one-year stint with the Blues, Clapp joined the Buffalo Bisons. Playing in 70 games, Clapp managed the team to a 46–32 record, placing the Bisons third in the NL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BUF/1879.shtml|title=1879 Buffalo Bisons Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 27, 2011}}</ref> On June 25 of that year, Clapp ended a streak of 212 consecutive games played, serving primarily as a catcher.<ref>{{cite book|title=The great encyclopedia of nineteenth century major league baseball|last=Nemec|first=David|page=224|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xlZrLEcuUlAC&source=gbs_navlinks_s|year=2006|publisher=University of Alabama Press|isbn=978-0-8173-1499-6}}</ref> In 1880, now playing and managing for the Cincinnati Stars, Clapp played in a total of 80 games, a career high, while leading the team to a 21–59 record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1880/UCN401880.htm Cincinnati Stars Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 27, 2011}}</ref> He played for the Cleveland Blues in 1881, when he earned the nickname "Honest": in May, a Chicago [[bookmaker]] named James S. Woodruff offered Clapp [[United States Dollar|$]]5,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|5000|1881|r=2}}}} in 2011) to allow a [[passed ball]] with runners on base, and also wanted to be informed which games to bet on when the moves would take place.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1881/05/29/98913671.pdf|title=Trying to Bribe a Ball-Player|work=The New York Times|date=May 28, 1881|accessdate=January 1, 2012}}</ref> Clapp reported him to the Chicago police, which led to Woodruff's arrest.<ref name="Before">{{cite book|title=Before They Were The Bombers: The New York Yankees' Early Years, 1903–1915|page=58|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jf4LesGl-0YC|last=Reisler|first=Jim|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|isbn=978-0-7864-2230-2}}</ref> In 1882, after leading the NL in [[base on balls|walks]], Clapp made his minor-league debut for the [[New York Metropolitans]] of the [[League Alliance]]. In 1883, his last MLB season, Clapp played for and managed the New York Gothams for their inaugural season.<ref>{{cite book|title=Giants Past & Present|last=Fost|first=Dan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QBV6Wb29yBEC&source=gbs_navlinks_s|page=56|publisher=MBI Publishing Company|year=2010|isbn=978-0-7603-3806-3}}</ref> Clapp, then 34, spent his final professional season with the [[St. Paul Apostles]], where he batted .180 with 11 hits and a double.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=76958837|title=1884 St. Paul Apostles|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 27, 2011}}</ref>
After his one-year stint with the Blues, Clapp joined the Buffalo Bisons. Playing in 70 games, Clapp managed the team to a 46–32 record, placing the Bisons third in the NL.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BUF/1879.shtml |title=1879 Buffalo Bisons Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref> On June 25 of that year, Clapp ended a streak of 212 consecutive games played, serving primarily as a catcher.<ref>{{cite book |title=The great encyclopedia of nineteenth century major league baseball |last=Nemec |first=David |page=224 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xlZrLEcuUlAC |year=2006 |publisher=University of Alabama Press |isbn=978-0-8173-1499-6}}</ref> In 1880, now playing and managing for the Cincinnati Stars, Clapp played in a total of 80 games, a career high, while leading the team to a 21–59 record.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1880/UCN401880.htm |title=Cincinnati Stars Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref> He played for the Cleveland Blues in 1881, when he earned the nickname "Honest": in May, a Chicago [[bookmaker]] named James S. Woodruff offered Clapp [[United States Dollar|$]]5,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|5000|1881|r=2}}}} in 2011) to allow a [[passed ball]] with runners on base, and also wanted to be informed which games to bet on when the moves would take place.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1881/05/29/98913671.pdf |title=Trying to Bribe a Ball-Player |work=The New York Times |date=May 28, 1881 |access-date=January 1, 2012}}</ref> Clapp reported him to the Chicago police, which led to Woodruff's arrest.<ref name="Before">{{cite book |title=Before They Were The Bombers: The New York Yankees' Early Years, 1903–1915 |page=58 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jf4LesGl-0YC |last=Reisler |first=Jim |date=2 March 2005 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-0-7864-2230-2}}</ref> In 1882, after leading the NL in [[base on balls|walks]], Clapp made his minor-league debut for the [[New York Metropolitans]] of the [[League Alliance]]. In 1883, his last MLB season, Clapp played for and managed the New York Gothams for their inaugural season.<ref>{{cite book |title=Giants Past & Present |last=Fost |first=Dan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QBV6Wb29yBEC |page=56 |publisher=MBI Publishing Company |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7603-3806-3}}</ref> Clapp, then 34, spent his final professional season with the [[St. Paul Apostles]], where he batted .180 with 11 hits and a double.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=76958837 |title=1884 St. Paul Apostles |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref>


==After baseball==
==After baseball==
After retiring from baseball, Clapp served as a night sergeant in his hometown of Ithaca, New York.<ref name="Before" /> He died at midnight on December 18, 1904, of [[apoplexy]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Dropped Dead While Making Arrest|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/12/19/100479609.pdf|format=PDF|newspaper=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Company|date=December 19, 1904|accessdate=September 27, 2011}}</ref> Clapp was interred at Lake View Cemetery in Ithaca.
After retiring from baseball, Clapp served as a night sergeant in his hometown of Ithaca, New York.<ref name="Before" /> He died at midnight on December 18, 1904, of [[apoplexy]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Dropped Dead While Making Arrest |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/12/19/100479609.pdf |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 19, 1904 |access-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref> Clapp was interred at [[Lake View Cemetery (Ithaca, New York)|Lake View Cemetery]] in Ithaca.


==See also==
==See also==
Line 65: Line 67:
==References==
==References==
;General
;General
*{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clappjo01.shtml|title=John Clapp Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 10, 2011|ref=CITEREFBaseball-Reference Major}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clappjo01.shtml |title=John Clapp Statistics and History |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=September 10, 2011 |ref=CITEREFBaseball-Reference Major}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=clapp-001joh|title=John Clapp Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=September 10, 2011}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=clapp-001joh |title=John Clapp Minor League Statistics and History |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=September 10, 2011}}
;Specific
;Specific
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|John Clapp}}
{{Baseballstats|br=c/clappjo01|brm=clapp-001joh|espn=20156|mlb=112311&c}}
*{{Baseball stats |br=c/clappjo01 |brm=clapp-001joh |espn=20156 |mlb=112311 }}


{{San Francisco Giants managers}}
{{San Francisco Giants managers}}
Line 77: Line 80:
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clapp, John}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clapp, John}}
[[Category:Major League Baseball catchers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball catchers]]
[[Category:19th-century baseball players]]
[[Category:Middletown Mansfields players]]
[[Category:Middletown Mansfields players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Athletics (NA) players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Athletics (NA) players]]
Line 84: Line 86:
[[Category:Buffalo Bisons (NL) players]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bisons (NL) players]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bisons (NL) managers]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bisons (NL) managers]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds (1876–80) players]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds (1876–1879) players]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds (1876–1880) managers]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds (1876–1880) managers]]
[[Category:Cleveland Blues (NL) players]]
[[Category:Cleveland Blues (NL) players]]
Line 90: Line 92:
[[Category:New York Gothams players]]
[[Category:New York Gothams players]]
[[Category:New York Gothams managers]]
[[Category:New York Gothams managers]]
[[Category:Baseball players from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Tompkins County, New York]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Ithaca, New York]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Ithaca, New York]]
[[Category:1851 births]]
[[Category:1851 births]]

Latest revision as of 01:22, 15 November 2024

John Clapp
Catcher / Manager
Born: (1851-07-15)July 15, 1851
Ithaca, New York, U.S.
Died: December 18, 1904(1904-12-18) (aged 53)
Ithaca, New York, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 26, 1872, for the Middletown Mansfields
Last MLB appearance
September 28, 1883, for the New York Gothams
MLB statistics
Batting average.283
Home runs7
Runs batted in275
Managerial record174–273
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
As player

As manager

John Edgar Clapp (July 15, 1851 – December 18, 1904), nicknamed "Honest John", was an American professional baseball player-manager whose career spanned 12 seasons, 11 of which were spent with the Major League Baseball (MLB) Middletown Mansfields (1872), Philadelphia Athletics (1873–75), St. Louis Brown Stockings (1876–77), Indianapolis Blues (1878), Buffalo Bisons (1879), Cincinnati Stars (1880), Cleveland Blues (1881), and New York Gothams (1883). Clapp, who predominately played as a catcher, also played as an outfielder. Over his career, Clapp compiled a career batting average of .283 with 459 runs scored, 713 hits, 92 doubles, 35 triples, 7 home runs, and 834 runs batted in (RBI). Over 1,188 games played, Clapp struck out 51 times. Although the majority of his career was spent in the major leagues, Clapp also played two seasons of minor league baseball. He made his MLB debut at the age of 21 and was listed as standing 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) and weighing 194 pounds (88 kg).[1] His brother, Aaron Clapp, also played one season of MLB for the Troy Trojans.

Early life

[edit]

John Edgar Clapp was born on July 15, 1851, in Ithaca, New York.[2]

Professional career

[edit]

In 1872, Clapp began his professional career with the Middletown Mansfields of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NA). Over 19 games played, Clapp batted .278 with one home run and a team-high 30 runs scored while managing the team to a 5–19 record.[3] After the team folded, Clapp joined the Philadelphia Athletics. His single home run tied him for the team-lead along with Wes Fisler, Cherokee Fisher, and Tim Murnane.[4] Next season, in 1874, Clapp led the NA in at bats per home run (55); his OPS (.732) was a career-high, while the Athletics finished the season 33–22, third in the NA, under manager Dick McBride.[5] In his final year with the club, Clapp batted .264 with 77 hits and 39 RBI. His putout total was second in the NA among catchers.

In 1876, Clapp joined the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the National League (NL). He finished the year tied for the team lead in games played (64) and hits (91),[6] while he led the NL in putouts as a catcher, with 333.[7] Next season, Clapp batted a career high .318, while his on-base percentage and on-base plus slugging percentages were the second highest in his career. In the field, Clapp committed 40 errors as a catcher, second highest in the NL to Lew Brown's 49.[8] After leaving the team, Clapp joined the Indianapolis Blues, where he served as a player-manager for the 1878 season. Playing primarily in the outfield, Clapp was tied for the MLB lead in games played along with Indianapolis teammates Silver Flint, Russ McKelvy, Orator Shafer, and Ned Williamson.[9]

After his one-year stint with the Blues, Clapp joined the Buffalo Bisons. Playing in 70 games, Clapp managed the team to a 46–32 record, placing the Bisons third in the NL.[10] On June 25 of that year, Clapp ended a streak of 212 consecutive games played, serving primarily as a catcher.[11] In 1880, now playing and managing for the Cincinnati Stars, Clapp played in a total of 80 games, a career high, while leading the team to a 21–59 record.[12] He played for the Cleveland Blues in 1881, when he earned the nickname "Honest": in May, a Chicago bookmaker named James S. Woodruff offered Clapp $5,000 ($157,862.07 in 2011) to allow a passed ball with runners on base, and also wanted to be informed which games to bet on when the moves would take place.[13] Clapp reported him to the Chicago police, which led to Woodruff's arrest.[14] In 1882, after leading the NL in walks, Clapp made his minor-league debut for the New York Metropolitans of the League Alliance. In 1883, his last MLB season, Clapp played for and managed the New York Gothams for their inaugural season.[15] Clapp, then 34, spent his final professional season with the St. Paul Apostles, where he batted .180 with 11 hits and a double.[16]

After baseball

[edit]

After retiring from baseball, Clapp served as a night sergeant in his hometown of Ithaca, New York.[14] He died at midnight on December 18, 1904, of apoplexy.[17] Clapp was interred at Lake View Cemetery in Ithaca.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
General
  • "John Clapp Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  • "John Clapp Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
Specific
  1. ^ "John Clapp". MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  2. ^ Gammons, Peter (2006). Pete Palmer; Gary Gillette; Stuart Shea (eds.). The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia. Sterling. p. 126. ISBN 1-4027-3625-8.
  3. ^ "1872 Middletown Mansfields Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  4. ^ "1873 Middletown Mansfields Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  5. ^ "1874 Middletown Mansfields Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  6. ^ "1876 St. Louis Brown Stockings Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  7. ^ "1876 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  8. ^ "1877 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  9. ^ "1878 Major League Baseball Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  10. ^ "1879 Buffalo Bisons Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  11. ^ Nemec, David (2006). The great encyclopedia of nineteenth century major league baseball. University of Alabama Press. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-8173-1499-6.
  12. ^ "Cincinnati Stars Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  13. ^ "Trying to Bribe a Ball-Player" (PDF). The New York Times. May 28, 1881. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
  14. ^ a b Reisler, Jim (March 2, 2005). Before They Were The Bombers: The New York Yankees' Early Years, 1903–1915. McFarland & Company. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-7864-2230-2.
  15. ^ Fost, Dan (2010). Giants Past & Present. MBI Publishing Company. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-7603-3806-3.
  16. ^ "1884 St. Paul Apostles". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  17. ^ "Dropped Dead While Making Arrest" (PDF). The New York Times. December 19, 1904. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Clapp.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=John_Clapp_(baseball)&oldid=1257468197"