Ripper Collins
Encyclopedia
James Anthony "Rip" Collins (March 30, 1904 - April 15, 1970) was a Major League Baseball
player for the St. Louis Cardinals
, Chicago Cubs
, and Pittsburgh Pirates
.
Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania
, he grew up in nearby Nanty Glo, where he was a standout in sandlot baseball in his youth. Collins started his professional baseball career in 1923. He played in various minor leagues for eight seasons until 1930, when he hit .376 with 40 home runs for the Rochester Red Wings
of the International League
. His 180 runs batted in set an IL record.
For that performance, Collins was called up to the majors. As a member of the Gashouse Gang
Cardinals teams, Collins had a breakout season in 1934 with 35 home runs (a league-leading total), 128 runs batted in, and a .333 batting average. He also hit .367 in the World Series
, which the Cardinals won in seven games.
Collins played in the Pacific Coast League
and Eastern League after his major league career was over. In 1944, he was named Minor League Player of the Year while with Albany of the Eastern League. That season – at the age of 40 – he managed to hit .396 with a league-leading 40 doubles.
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...
player for 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...
, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, and Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
, he grew up in nearby Nanty Glo, where he was a standout in sandlot baseball in his youth. Collins started his professional baseball career in 1923. He played in various minor leagues for eight seasons until 1930, when he hit .376 with 40 home runs for the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. His 180 runs batted in set an IL record.
For that performance, Collins was called up to the majors. As a member of the Gashouse Gang
Gashouse Gang
The Gashouse Gang was a nickname applied to the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball team of .The Cardinals, by most accounts, earned this nickname from the team's generally very shabby appearance and rough-and-tumble tactics...
Cardinals teams, Collins had a breakout season in 1934 with 35 home runs (a league-leading total), 128 runs batted in, and a .333 batting average. He also hit .367 in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, which the Cardinals won in seven games.
Collins played in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
and Eastern League after his major league career was over. In 1944, he was named Minor League Player of the Year while with Albany of the Eastern League. That season – at the age of 40 – he managed to hit .396 with a league-leading 40 doubles.