Earl Rapp

Who was Earl Rapp?

Earl Wellington Rapp was an American professional baseball outfielder and scout. In Major League Baseball, he played in 1949 and from 1951 to 1952 for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, New York Giants, St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators. Born in Corunna, Michigan, but raised in Swedesboro, New Jersey, he batted left-handed, threw right-handed, stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 185 pounds.

Rapp, whose father was a plant inspector, went to high school in Swedesboro, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track.

He was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1940. Before the 1941 season, he was sent to the Boston Red Sox in an unknown transaction. In June of that year, the Red Sox sent him to the Tigers in another unknown transaction. He then spent many years in the minor leagues, missing 1943 to 1945 due to military service. He served in the United States Army and saw combat in the European Theater of Operations, attaining the rank of Sergeant and earning a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. He was wounded in the leg at the battle of Colmar Pocket in early 1945.

In 1948, Rapp hit .298 with 17 home runs and 96 RBI for the Seattle Rainiers. Prior to getting the call up to the majors in 1949, he hit .340 with 15 home runs and 86 RBI for the Oakland Oaks.