John Papa

Who is John Papa?

John Paul Papa is a retired American professional baseball player. Papa, a right-handed pitcher, appeared in three Major League games, all in relief, for the Baltimore Orioles in 1961–1962, and spent the remainder of his career in minor league baseball. He attended the University of Bridgeport and the University of New Haven, stood 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 190 pounds.

Papa signed with the Orioles in 1958 for a $65,000 bonus. That season, Major League Baseball rescinded the infamous "bonus rule" that would have mandated that the Orioles keep Papa on their 25-man roster for two full seasons; the rule was blamed for wrecking the careers of numerous "bonus babies" whose talents rusted on the bench, rather than being developed in the minors. Sent to the Baltimore farm system, Papa hurt his arm in his third pro season, trying to throw the slider in Class B. But he made the Baltimore opening-season 28-man roster in 1961 at the age of 20.