Stubby Clapp
From BR Bullpen
Richard Keith Clapp
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 5' 8", Weight 175 lb.
- School Paris Junior College, Texas Tech University
- Debut June 18, 2001
- Final Game October 4, 2001
- Born February 24, 1973 in Windsor, ON CAN
[edit] Biographical Information
Stubby Clapp has played for Team Canada in numerous events.
Clapp was on the only Canadian team (through 2007) to win a World Junior Championship; he was on the club that won the 1991 event.
Clapp hit .222/.364/.222 as Canada's utility man in the 1994 Baseball World Cup. In the 1999 Pan American Games, Clapp hit .348 to help Canada claim the Bronze Medal and the best record in the competition.
He represented Canada at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. In the 2006 Americas Qualifier for the 2008 Olympics, Clapp hit .270/.400/.351 and stole two bases for Team Canada. Canada failed to earn an Olympic berth but they did get a spot in the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament. In the latter event, they earned a spot in the Summer Games. Clapp hit .364/.517/.500 with 6 walks and 6 runs in seven games at second base. He made numerous big plays in the tournament. Against Taiwan, he came to bat with two out in the 9th and a 5-4 deficit. Facing closer Chia-Jen Lo, Clapp beat out an infield hit by diving into first base. He scored the tying run on a Mike Saunders single, forcing extra innings; Canada went on to win, 6-5. He reached against Hyun-jin Ryu in the first inning against South Korea and scored on a Matt Rogelstad homer in a 4-3 victory. Those were two big wins as Taiwan and South Korea also moved on to the Olympics. In their final game, against Germany, Clapp drew a leadoff 10th-inning walk from Dirk Fries. After the bases were loaded with one out, Ryan Radmanovich grounded to Donald Lutz, who threw home. Clapp slid hard into home to prevent Simon Gühring from turning a double play; the move helped Canada win the game but Clapp was injured on the play.
In 2007 Clapp was the hitting coach for the Greeneville Astros and the Lexington Legends in 2008. He will return to Greeneville in 2009.
It was originally reported that the Houston Astros forbade Clapp permission to play in the 2008 Olympics; in May, the Astros said Clapp would be allowed to play. Clapp hit .286/.323/.429 with 5 runs in 7 games in Beijing, outperforming many of Canada's younger players. He made one error while playing every game at second base.
Clapp announced he would make his final appearance for Team Canada at the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He did not get much playing time as he was only brought in as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of the Canada/Italy matchup on March 9, 2009 at Rogers Centre in Toronto. He flied out to centre field. He also played at second base near the end of that game; he was given a rousing ovation by the crowd at Rogers Centre. [1]
[edit] Odds and Ends
"Stubby" is a family nickname; he is the third generation to be called "Stubby". His son Cooper is also known as "Stubby". He is also known to perform backflips on occasion while on field, as a tribute to Ozzie Smith. Taken from Official bio at Baseball Canada
