Rip Repulski
Encyclopedia
Eldon John Repulski (October 4, 1928 – February 10, 1993) was an outfielder
in Major League Baseball
. From 1953 through 1961, he played with the St. Louis Cardinals
(1953–56), Philadelphia Phillies
(1957–58), Los Angeles Dodgers
(1959–60) and Boston Red Sox
(1960–61). He batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota
.
In a nine-season career, Repulski posted a .269 batting average
with 106 home run
s and 416 RBI
in 928 games played
.
A fine defensive player at all outfield positions, Repulski became the regular center fielder
for the St. Louis Cardinals in his 1953 rookie
season. He appeared in a career-high 153 games and finished third in National League Rookie of the Year
voting behind Jim Gilliam
and Harvey Haddix
.
Repulski enjoyed his most productive seasons in and .
In , he hit 19 home runs and posted career highs in batting average (.283), runs
(99), RBI (79) and doubles
(39). From June 13–25 he had a string of ten consecutive games in which he collected two or more hits, going 22-for-44 (.500), half for extra bases
. After that, he hit in six more consecutive games before going hitless.
In Repulski posted career highs in home runs (23), walks (49), on-base percentage (.333), slugging average (.467), OPS+ (110), and batting runs (7.7).
He earned an All-Star berth in . At the end of the season, he was sent to the Philadelphia Phillies in the same trade that brought Del Ennis
to St. Louis.
Repulski hit 20 home runs for the Phillies in 1957. A year later, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with two other players in exchange for second baseman
Sparky Anderson
. He appeared in the 1959 World Series
with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Traded by Los Angeles to the Boston Red Sox in the 1960 midseason, Repulski hit a grand slam
at Fenway Park
in his first American League
at bat
. He played his last major league season with the Red Sox in 1961.
Repulski died in Waite Park, Minnesota
, at age of 64.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
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...
. From 1953 through 1961, he played with 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...
(1953–56), Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1957–58), Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1959–60) and Boston Red Sox
Boston 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"...
(1960–61). He batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota
Sauk Rapids, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,213 people, 3,921 households, and 2,599 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,234.1 people per square mile . There were 4,017 housing units at an average density of 878.7 per square mile...
.
In a nine-season career, Repulski posted a .269 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 :...
with 106 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 and 416 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...
in 928 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
A fine defensive player at all outfield positions, Repulski became the regular center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
for the St. Louis Cardinals in his 1953 rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season. He appeared in a career-high 153 games and finished third in National League Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
voting behind Jim Gilliam
Jim Gilliam
James William Gilliam was an American second and third baseman and coach in Negro League and Major League Baseball who spent his entire major league career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was named the National League Rookie of the Year, and was a key member of ten NL championship...
and Harvey Haddix
Harvey Haddix
Harvey Haddix, Jr. was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played with the St. Louis Cardinals , Philadelphia Phillies , Cincinnati Redlegs , Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles . Haddix was born in Medway, Ohio, located just outside of Springfield...
.
Repulski enjoyed his most productive seasons in and .
In , he hit 19 home runs and posted career highs in batting average (.283), runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(99), RBI (79) and 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....
(39). From June 13–25 he had a string of ten consecutive games in which he collected two or more hits, going 22-for-44 (.500), half for extra bases
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
. After that, he hit in six more consecutive games before going hitless.
In Repulski posted career highs in home runs (23), walks (49), on-base percentage (.333), slugging average (.467), OPS+ (110), and batting runs (7.7).
He earned an All-Star berth in . At the end of the season, he was sent to the Philadelphia Phillies in the same trade that brought Del Ennis
Del Ennis
Delmer Ennis was an American left and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Philadelphia Phillies. From 1949 to 1957, Ennis accumulated more runs batted in than anyone besides Stan Musial and was 8th in the National League in home runs...
to St. Louis.
Repulski hit 20 home runs for the Phillies in 1957. A year later, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with two other players in exchange for second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
. He appeared in the 1959 World Series
1959 World Series
The 1959 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers beating the American League champion Chicago White Sox, four games to two. It was the first pennant for the White Sox in 40 years . They would have to wait until 2005 to win another championship...
with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Traded by Los Angeles to the Boston Red Sox in the 1960 midseason, Repulski hit a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
in his first American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
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...
. He played his last major league season with the Red Sox in 1961.
Repulski died in Waite Park, Minnesota
Waite Park, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,568 people, 2,967 households, and 1,536 families residing in the city. The population density was 841.0 people per square mile . There were 3,065 housing units at an average density of 392.5 per square mile...
, at age of 64.
External links
- Baseball Library - profile and chronology