Mike Coppola

Michael Joseph Coppola Jr.

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 199 lb.

• High School Edgewood High School, St. Basil's Preparatory School
• Born June 29, 1932 in Stamford, CT USA
• Died August 4, 2013

BR Minors page

Biographical information

Outfielder Mike Coppola played in the minor leagues from 1951 to 1952 and from 1955 to 1957. In his five-year career, he won two home run titles.

He began his career in the Pittsburgh Pirates system, playing for the Butler Tigers and hitting .266/??/.459 with three home runs in 29 games. In 1952, now in the Boston Braves organization, he hit .279/.340/.460 with 10 home runs and 28 doubles in 100 games for the Danville Dans. His 20 assists led outfielders in the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League. He was 9th in the circuit in doubles and tied for 7th in home runs. He did not play in 1953 or 1954 due to US Army service in Germany. He played for his company's team in baseball and basketball while overseas.

Returning to professional baseball in 1955, Coppola did not miss a beat, hitting .306/.426/.613 with 33 home runs, 89 walks, 93 runs and 112 RBI in 125 games for the unaffiliated Wytheville Statesmen. He tied Muscle Shoals for the Appalachian League lead in home runs, finished second behind Shoals in total bases (283 to 273), was second to Shoals' 134 in RBI, was third in slugging, tied for third in games played, tied for 6th in runs and ranked 4th in walks. That year, his brother Samuel Coppola was one of his outfield mates.

In 1956, he played in the Kansas City Athletics system, suiting up for the Pocatello Bannocks, Crowley Millers and Abilene Blue Sox. He spent most of the year with Pocatello (103 games), hitting a combined .296 in 118 games. He paced the Pioneer League in home runs, with 28, one more than Robert Pascal. He wrapped up his career in 1957, hitting .276/.410/.497 with eight home runs and 42 RBI in 47 games for the Yakima Bears.

In 419 career games, he hit .290 with 444 hits and at least 82 home runs.

Coppola later worked for the Stamford Tile Co.

Sources

• 1953, 1956 and 1958 Baseball Guides
• Obituary from the Stamford Advocate