Richard Clapp
Encyclopedia
Richard Keith "Stubby" Clapp (born February 24, 1973 in Windsor, Ontario
) is a Canadian
minor league baseball
coach
and former professional baseball
player
. He played for 11 years, most notably within the St. Louis Cardinals
organization, including a brief stint in Major League Baseball
with the Cardinals. He is currently the manager with the Tri-City ValleyCats, a Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros
.
, where he played for the Red Raiders baseball team
. He still holds (or shares) the Red Raiders' records for triples in a season (8), runs in game (5, 3 times), strikeouts in a game (4) and walks in a season (66), both set during the 1996 season. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 36th round (1,058th overall) of 1996 amateur entry draft
. He was part of Team Canada in the 2004 Summer Olympics
who finished in fourth place. He also played for Canada in the 2006 World Baseball Classic
. In 3 games, Clapp hit .154, with a triple
and an RBI
.
Clapp played 23 games in for the St. Louis Cardinals. Clapp had 5 hits
in 25 at bat
s, including 2 doubles
and 1 RBI.
Clapp became a popular figure in the City of Memphis
during his four-year stint (-) with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds
. He was often referred to as the "Mayor of Memphis." During the 2002 season, the 5-foot-8 Clapp was featured on a growth chart for kids, sponsored by a Memphis-area medical group. In 2009, he was named one of the Memphis "Athletes of the Decade." In 2010, the club had "Ode to Clapping Night," which included giving away Clapp bobbleheads.
However, Clapp was also popular in Syracuse and other cities where he played.
In 911 minor league games, Clapp had a .270 batting average
, 48 home run
s, 50 triples, 196 doubles, 365 RBI, and 83 steals
. Clapp also pitched in 3 games. In 2.1 innings, Clapp has given up 2 hits and no earned runs.
He also played for the Edmonton Cracker Cats. In 2006, Clapp played for Canada in the inaugural World Baseball Classic
. He was one of two second basemen on the roster and drove in a run.
, which is commemorated by a painted "10" on the wall above the Redbirds' bullpen at AutoZone Park
. He is second all-time for the Memphis Redbird for games played (425) and hits (418).
Clapp began his coaching career as a hitting coach for the Lexington Legends
, the Houston Astros
"A" ball team in the South Atlantic League
, although he came out of retirement to represent Canada at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
and was named to the roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic
.
In November 2010, Clapp became the hitting coach for the Corpus Christi Hooks
, Houston's AA affiliate.
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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...
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...
and former professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. He played for 11 years, most notably within the 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...
organization, including a brief stint 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...
with the Cardinals. He is currently the manager with the Tri-City ValleyCats, a Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
Early life
In his youth, Stubby Clapp could be considered a two-sport athlete. Having distinguished himself through the Windsor minor hockey system. After playing Bantam hockey in Windsor, Clapp played an important role for the Windsor Bulldogs (currently, LaSalle Vipers) from 1990 to 1992. In 1991, the Bulldogs clinched 1st place during the regular season and Clapp scored 5 goals during the playoffs. For the 1991-1992 team, he was named captain of the team.Baseball career
Clapp graduated from Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, where he played for the Red Raiders baseball team
Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball
The Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team represents Texas Tech University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team competes in the Big 12 Conference and plays at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.-Early years:...
. He still holds (or shares) the Red Raiders' records for triples in a season (8), runs in game (5, 3 times), strikeouts in a game (4) and walks in a season (66), both set during the 1996 season. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 36th round (1,058th overall) of 1996 amateur entry draft
1996 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1996 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 4 and 5, 1996...
. He was part of Team Canada in the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
who finished in fourth place. He also played for Canada in the 2006 World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
. In 3 games, Clapp hit .154, with a triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and an RBI
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...
.
Clapp played 23 games in for the St. Louis Cardinals. Clapp had 5 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 25 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s, including 2 doubles
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....
and 1 RBI.
Clapp became a popular figure in the City of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
during his four-year stint (-) with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds
Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
. He was often referred to as the "Mayor of Memphis." During the 2002 season, the 5-foot-8 Clapp was featured on a growth chart for kids, sponsored by a Memphis-area medical group. In 2009, he was named one of the Memphis "Athletes of the Decade." In 2010, the club had "Ode to Clapping Night," which included giving away Clapp bobbleheads.
However, Clapp was also popular in Syracuse and other cities where he played.
In 911 minor league games, Clapp had a .270 batting average
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 :...
, 48 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, 50 triples, 196 doubles, 365 RBI, and 83 steals
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
. Clapp also pitched in 3 games. In 2.1 innings, Clapp has given up 2 hits and no earned runs.
He also played for the Edmonton Cracker Cats. In 2006, Clapp played for Canada in the inaugural World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
. He was one of two second basemen on the roster and drove in a run.
Post-playing career
On April 21, 2007, Clapp's jersey #10 was the first number ever retired by the Memphis RedbirdsMemphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
, which is commemorated by a painted "10" on the wall above the Redbirds' bullpen at AutoZone Park
AutoZone Park
AutoZone Park is a minor league baseball stadium located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee and the home of the Memphis Redbirds of the Pacific Coast League, the AAA affiliate of the St...
. He is second all-time for the Memphis Redbird for games played (425) and hits (418).
Clapp began his coaching career as a hitting coach for the Lexington Legends
Lexington Legends
The Lexington Legends are a minor league baseball team of the South Atlantic League , and the Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Lexington, Kentucky, and play their home games at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, located in an industrial area on the northeast side of the city just...
, the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
"A" ball team in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
, although he came out of retirement to represent Canada at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 13 to August 23. All games were played at Wukesong Baseball Field, a temporary venue constructed at the Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center...
and was named to the roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
.
In November 2010, Clapp became the hitting coach for the Corpus Christi Hooks
Corpus Christi Hooks
The Corpus Christi Hooks are a minor league baseball team of the Texas League, and are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team's ownership group is headed by Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan...
, Houston's AA affiliate.