Gene Krapp

Eugene Hamlet Krapp
(Rubber Arm)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 5", Weight 165 lb.

• Debut April 14, 1911
• Final Game September 30, 1915
• Born May 12, 1887 in Rochester, NY USA
• Died April 13, 1923 in Detroit, MI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Gene "Rubber Arm" Krapp began pitching professionally in 1907 and pitched for four seasons with the Cleveland Indians and Buffalo Buffeds/Blues, 1911 to 1915.

Both Gene and Vean Gregg pitched for Portland in 1910, with Gene going 30-17 and Gregg going 31-17. Both were brought to the Cleveland Indians in 1911, with Gene going 13-9 and Gregg winning the American League ERA championship. The two helped the Indians go from a 71-81 mark in 1910 to a record of 80-73 in 1911.

Krapp led American League pitchers with 136 walks (in 215 innings) in his rookie 1911 season, but was the third-hardest to hit and went 13-9. His control worsened in 1912 (42 BB in 59 innings) and he was out of the majors until coming back in the Federal League, going 14-14 and 9-19 for the BufFeds/Blues in 1914-1915.

His professional career started in 1906, and his last minor league stint was in 1916 with Chattanooga.

He was a principal in the Krapp Brothers Auto Sale Company. He died at age 34 following surgery for intestinal cancer and is buried at Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit, MI.

Related Sites

• Gene Krapp at the SABR Bio project
• Find-A-Grave Memorial for Gene Krapp