Gene Krapp
From BR Bullpen
Eugene Hamlet Krapp (Rubber Arm)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 5", Weight 165 lb.
- Debut April 14, 1911
- Final Game September 30, 1915
- Born May 12, 1887 in Rochester, NY USA
- Died April 13, 1923 in Detroit, MI USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Gene "Rubber Arm" Krapp began pitching professionally in 1907 and pitched for four seasons with the Cleveland Indians and Buffalo Buffeds/Blues, 1911 to 1915.
Both Gene and Vean Gregg pitched for Portland in 1910, with Gene going 30-17 and Gregg going 31-17. Both were brought to the Cleveland Indians in 1911, with Gene going 13-9 and Gregg winning the American League ERA championship. The two helped the Indians go from a 71-81 mark in 1910 to a record of 80-73 in 1911.
Krapp led American League pitchers with 136 walks (in 215 innings) in his rookie 1911 season, but was the third-hardest to hit and went 13-9. His control worsened in 1912 (42 BB in 59 innings) and he was out of the majors until coming back in the Federal League, going 14-14 and 9-19 for the BufFeds/Blues in 1914-1915.
His professional career started in 1906, and his last minor league stint was in 1916 with Chattanooga.
He was a principal in the Krapp Brothers Auto Sale Company. He died at age 34 following surgery for intestinal cancer and is buried at Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit, MI.
