Bill Chappelle

William Hogan Chappelle
(Big Bill)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 206 lb.

• Debut August 20, 1908
• Final Game September 24, 1914
• Born March 22, 1881 in Waterloo, NY USA
• Died December 31, 1944 in Mineola, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Big Bill Chappelle pitched three years in the majors but is much more famous for something he did in the minors. On September 17, 1910, while playing for the Mobile Sea Gulls, he was the Sea Gulls' pitcher in the quickest game ever played - 32 minutes. According to a SABR article, it was the last game of the season, and every player acted at a terrific pace. One newspaper said the pitchers worked "like demented steam engines". The Sea Gulls won the game, 2-1. [1]

In the majors, Bill pitched 35 games in parts of three seasons, with an excellent 2.38 ERA. His minor league career lasted at least seven seasons; he went 20-10 for the 1905 Des Moines Underwriters and, five years later, he won 19 games for Des Moines. Through 2019, he is the only major leaguer born in Waterloo, NY.