Big pitchers often get the attention of baseball
talent evaluators, especially when they have the stuff to match the physique. Ray
Rippelmeyer was one of
those talented prospects. While his major league playing career was brief, he
spent his life ion the game and made quite the imp[act on a number of levels.
Born in 1933, Rippelmeyer went to college at
Southeast Missouri State University and Southern Illinois University before
signing with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954. At 6’3” and 200 pounds, he commanded
attention from his perch on the mound. He only caused further commotion by
throwing 204 innings and winning 16 games with a 2.91 ERA that year for the
Evansville Braves, the Class-B affiliate of Milwaukee.
He proved to be a solid hurler, winning 15 games in
1958, 14 in 1959 and 16 in 1960 (his
first year in the system of the Cincinnati Reds who selected him in the minor
league draft), yet could not get a call up to the big league club.
His big break came when the Washington Senators
plucked him from the Reds during the Rule 5 Draft in 1961. He finally broke
with the major league team after eight minor league seasons following spring
training in 1962. He was used sparingly, but went 1-2 with a 5.49 ERA in 18
games (one start), striking out 27 and allowing 47 hits in 39.1 innings. His
best outing was his first, as he blanked the Cleveland Indians on 6 hits over
five innings on April
14th, mopping up for starter Claude
Osteen, who was pulled from the game after
retiring just one batter.
Interestingly, Rippelmeyer has an impressive, albeit
incredibly brief, batting record in the majors. He went to the plate a total of
six times, but collected three hits, including a double and also a home run
against Bill Monbouquette of the Boston Red Sox.
Unfortunately, a sore arm prevented Rippelmeyer from
reaching his full potential and showing the Senators all he could do. Because
of his mediocre results, he was returned to the Reds before the end of the 1962
season, as Washington couldn’t afford to keep him on their roster. He went on
to pitch effectively as a starter and reliever through the 1964 season. In 1965
he posted a 7.96 ERA in 13 games at Triple-A and his playing career was done at
the age of 31.
Unlike some players, he had an immediate bridge to
his next life in baseball. He finished out the 1965 season managing a Class-A
team for the Baltimore Orioles and then went on to have a lengthy and renowned
career as a manager and coach. His greatest work was as the pitching coach of
the Philadelphia Phillies from 1970 through 1978, as the team was the National League
East Division champions his final three years there.
His work as an instructor spanned many more years.
Although his time as a big league ball player was brief, he used it as a
springboard to produce a well-rounded and productive career in the game. Keep
reading to see what he had to say about his career.
Ray
Rippelmeyer Questionnaire:
What
was the strangest play you ever saw in baseball?: Our
leftfielder in Atlanta, Georgia getting hit on the head with a fly ball that
left stitch marks on his forehead. That was Bob Thorpe- a
bonus player for the Braves.
If you could do anything about your playing career differently,
what would that be?: I would have spoken up and told them
how much my arm was hurting in Washington.
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