Bill Rapps

William Herman "Bill" Rapps (February 1, 1881 – April 20, 1965) was a professional baseball player whose career spanned 15 consecutive seasons—1903 to 1917—in Minor League Baseball. He was known by several nicknames over his career, the most frequent being "Roaring Bill" for his boisterous on-field performance. Over his career, he played a number of positions, the most frequent being outfield and first base. In 1907, he was moved to second base and in 1914 became a backup catcher.

Bill Rapps
Rapps in 1911
Outfielder / First baseman / Utility player
Born: (1881-02-01)February 1, 1881
Papinville, Missouri
Died: April 20, 1965(1965-04-20) (aged 84)
Iola, Kansas
Batted: Right Threw: Right
Minor League Baseball debut
1903
Last Minor League Baseball appearance
1917, for the Charles City Tractorites
Minor League Baseball, Class A statistics
Batting average.269
Doubles160
Home runs21
Teams

Rapps never made it to the highest level of professional baseball, which several sources throughout his career attributed to his behavior and lackadaisical play.[1][2][3] In 1906, the Leavenworth Post wrote that Rapps had a "sulking disposition" and shortly thereafter he was sold from the team.[2] The Topeka State Journal noted in 1907 that Rapps was often "accused of being a follower of a vaudeville circuit".[4] He briefly tempered his clownish behavior, but in 1908 he started up again.[5][6][7]

Rapps joined the Portland Beavers in 1910, but was sold from the club after three seasons. The end of his tenure in Portland culminated in a public feud with team manager Walt McCredie, who accused Rapps of under-performing in 1912 because he was not made team captain.[3] Rapps was sold by Portland to the Topeka Jayhawks in 1913 and the following year won the House Cup, which was given to the most valuable Topeka player. Rapps retired in 1917 after last playing for the Charles City Tractorites. Following his retirement, Rapps worked on his farm and operated grocery and feed stores in Schell City, Missouri and Iola, Kansas.

Biography

William Herman "Bill" Rapps was born on February 1, 1881 in Papinville, Missouri and was raised on his family's farm.[8] He taught himself how to play baseball as a child by throwing rocks on his farm.[9][10] Around 1900, Rapps was employed by W. H. Drumheller in Centerville, Missouri and played baseball for a team in Erie.[11]

Early career (1903–06)

Rapps began his professional career in the Class D Missouri Valley League in 1903. He played for three teams that season—the Nevada Lunatics, Webb City Goldbugs and the Joplin Miners. Stats for that season were not complete, but he was recorded to have at least 135 hits in 505 at bats.[12] By 1904, Rapps had begun antics that would become a staple of his baseball career, his loud shouting and noise-making, which earned him the nickname "Noisy Bill".[13][14] He was also given the nickname "Lucky" Bill Rapps.[15][16]

Rapps joined the Leavenworth Orioles of the Missouri Valley League in 1904, but by July he was requesting his release, which was denied.[17] He was moved defensively from the outfield to the infield, which The Topeka State Journal noted improved Rapps' fielding percentage.[18] On September 2, 1904 Rapps along with Topeka Saints player Nick Carter were forced to act as umpires when umpire Harry LaFrance stormed off the field following an argument in the fifth inning.[19] Rapps later told The Topeka State Journal that he would never umpire again in Topeka, Kansas due to the abuse he faced from spectators.[20]

In September 1904, Rapps was given a tryout with the Columbus Senators of the Class A American Association.[14] He was given a contract offer by Columbus general manager Bob Quinn for the 1905 season, but chose to stay with the Leavenworth Orioles, who also extended him a contract offer for the upcoming season.[21][22] Leavenworth joined the Class C Western Association in 1905. Rapps was late reporting to the Orioles, but eventually joined the team in June 1905 after the Leavenworth management increased his salary.[23][24][25]

The Topeka State Journal asserted in their August 10, 1905 edition that Rapps' "idiosyncrasies" kept him from being promoted to a higher minor league.[1] Rapps curbed his antics in 1905 as The Topeka State Journal noted on August 19, 1905, "Then there was Bill Rapps [...] But he is not the same Bill of yore. Perhaps he is getting dignified. No more we hear him yell like an Apache Indian when he makes a hit: 'Noisy Bill Rapps, you lucky dog.' No more his: 'Vaaal saaay!' caroms from fence to fence. No longer does he paw the earth and howl himself hoarse. [...] This year he is quiet and says little in comparison to his welcome mouthings last summer."[5] The newspaper gave him a new nickname, "Silent" Bill Rapps.[26] Rapps finished the 1905 season with a .264 batting average. He led all Western Association first basemen in fielding percentage and putouts.[27] After the season, Rapps joined the Sedalia Goldbugs on a month-long tour of Oklahoma where they played local amateur and semi-pro teams.[28]

The Leavenworth Old Soldiers (formerly the Orioles) and the Joplin Miners, both of the Western Association, offered contracts to Rapps for the 1906 season.[29] He chose Leavenworth, but he was late reporting to the team because he was recovering from a broken jaw.[30] Rapps got a $27 bonus (equivalent to $768 in 2019) for hitting a home run in May 1906.[31] The Leavenworth Post accused Rapps of purposefully playing under his ability, writing, "It is too bad that Rapps cannot reach the conclusion that in order to reach the top he must play ball at all time and cast off that sulking disposition which shows itself occasionally."[2] His last game with Leavenworth was on July 26, 1906. The Old Soldiers sold Rapps to the Wichita Jobbers, who also played in the Western Association.[32] Statistics during the 1906 season were incomplete, but he had at least 122 hits, 19 of which were doubles.

Oklahoma City Mets / Indians (1907–09)

In April 1907, Rapps was traded by the Wichita Jobbers to the Oklahoma City Mets in exchange for Affy Wilson.[33] Rapps, who before 1907 primarily played the outfield and first base, played second base at various times throughout the season.[34][35][36] In May 1907, the Joplin Miners made an unsuccessful attempt to acquire Rapps.[37] The Topeka State Journal noted continued changes in Rapps' attitude in 1907. They wrote on June 20, 1907, "One of the great changes which has been brought about in the Western Association [...] is the great transformation of Bill Rapps [...] His stunts on the sidelines, those of the comedian order always amused the crowd greatly and Bill was really accused of being a follower of a vaudeville circuit in the winter time. [...] He was nicknamed 'Noisy Bill' by the fans all over the circuit. Now everything is changed. He is no longer Noisy Bill and seldom opens his mouth. [...] The fans who used to know him, in his palmy days as a comedian would recognize but little of the former Bill Rapps in his playing."[4] In July 1907, Rapps developed a carbuncle on the side of his body which prohibited him from playing.[38] He had a .266 batting average with 139 hits in 523 at bats in 1907.[12]

The Topeka State Journal reported in 1908 that Rapps' clownish antics had returned.[6][7] He was sidelined in August 1908 due to an unspecified illness.[39] Rapps finished the 1908 season with a .265 batting average with 22 doubles, two triples and four home runs in 136 games played.[12] During the off-season, Rapps and his wife, Pearl, resided in Rich Hill, Missouri.[40] Rapps continued playing for Oklahoma City (now renamed the Indians) in 1909, who had joined the Class C Texas League.[41] Along with Indians player Doc Andrews, Rapps completed a triple play in July 1909.[42] On August 3, 1909 Pearl Rapps gave birth to the couple's first child, Rita B. Rapps, in Yukon, Oklahoma. Oklahoma City players pooled their money and purchased the couple a new baby carriage as a gift.[43] Bill Rapps had a .278 batting average for Oklahoma City in 1909, with 30 doubles, four triples and five home runs in 136 games. Rapps was second in the Texas League in doubles that season.[44] He was sold to the Kansas City Blues of the Class A American Association in September 1909.[45] With Kansas City, Rapps played 22 games and compiled a .254 batting average with one double, one triple and three runs batted in.[12]

Portland Beavers (1910–12)
A 1910 baseball card of Rapps

Before the 1910 season, Rapps was drafted from the Kansas City Blues by the Portland Beavers of the Class A Pacific Coast League. Rules prohibited drafting players from equally or lower classed leagues (Kansas City was also a Class A team), however, it was discovered Blues owner George Tebeau never officially registered the purchase of Rapps from the Oklahoma Indians in September 1909. As a result, Rapps was awarded to Portland.[9] The Oregonian's W. J. Petrain wrote on March 17, 1910, "Billy Rapps, the lanky, dark complexioned first baseman, will win the hearts of the Portland fans from the very start. [...] In the Texas League, Western and American Associations Rapps is known as "Roaring Bill".[46] In March 1910, The Oregonian reported that Charles Comiskey, owner of the Chicago White Sox, contacted Beavers manager Walt McCredie to purchase Rapps, but McCredie declined the offer.[47] Rapps did not play for a week at the end of April 1910 due to severe cold.[48][49] Rapps finished the season with a .236 batting average, 32 doubles, nine triples and three home runs in 207 games played.[12] He was third in the Pacific Coast League in triples.[50]

Following the 1910 season, Beavers' manager Walt McCredie announced Rapps would be returning as the team's first baseman.[51] He stayed in Portland with his family during the off-season.[52] Rapps executed a hidden ball trick putout on Clarence McDonnell during the sixth inning of a game against the Vernon Tigers on September 17, 1911.[53] During the tenth inning of a game against the Oakland Oaks on September 21, 1911, Rapps was struck on the top of the head by a pitch from Jack Flater.[54] During the 1911 season, Rapps had a .279 batting average with 35 doubles and six triples.[12] The Beavers won the Pacific Coast League pennant in 1911.[55] Following the season, Rapps played on an indoor baseball team in Portland with Beavers teammates Bill Steen, Nick Williams and Art Kruger.[56]

According to The Oregonian, Rapps was sought after by several Major League Baseball clubs following the 1911 season.[57] Walt McCredie planned to meet with St. Louis Browns owner Robert Lee Hedges about a possible trade involving Rapps.[58] In the meantime, McCredie gave Rapps a job working in his Downtown Portland pool hall.[59] McCredie told The Oregonian in October 1911 that he planned to have Rapps on his 1912 roster.[60] McCredie offered him an increased salary for the upcoming season and Rapps signed his contract in February 1912.[61][62] That season the Pacific Coast League adopted jersey numbers. Rapps selected one as his number.[63] In August 1912, Rapps was unable to play due to a broken rib.[64] In a game against the Oakland Oaks on September 14, 1912 Rapps completed an unassisted triple play, the third in the history of the Pacific Coast League.[65][66] On September 27, 1912 Rapps sprained his left ankle during a game against the San Francisco Seals.[67] His batting average in 1912 was .244 with 23 doubles, three triples and five home runs in 144 games.[12] He played in the California Winter League after the conclusion of the PCL season.[68]

Walt McCredie announced in November 1912 that he intended to trade Rapps in order to make room on the Beavers' roster for the upcoming season.[69] McCredie explained his reasoning for putting Rapps on the trade bloc to The Oregonian, telling them, "Fans ask me why I let Bill Rapps go [...] I carried Bill a couple of seasons when he did only fair work. [...] I made up my mind to get rid of Bill, and this is what I intend to do." McCredie also said he thought Rapps was upset he was not made team captain, which caused him to play under his ability.[3] No offers were made on Rapps before 1913 Spring training, so McCredie extended a contract to Rapps for the upcoming season, but heard no reply.[70] On February 12, 1913, The Oregonian reported that McCredie was working out a deal to send Rapps to the Waterbury Spuds of the Class B Connecticut State League.[71] At the last second, the Topeka Jayhawks of the Class A Western League stepped in and made an offer of $600 for Rapps, which McCredie accepted.[72] He would later say that Rapps lied about his age. According to McCredie, when Rapps joined the Beavers he claimed to be 23 years old, but was actually 29.[12][73]

Topeka Jayhawks and later career (1913–17)

Rapps signed a contract to play for the Topeka Jayhawks in 1913 and was named team captain.[74][75] Rapps arrived with his wife in Topeka, Kansas on March 14, 1913.[76] Instead of joining the team on their final road trip of the 1913 season, Rapps was permitted to join his family at his winter home in Schell City, Missouri.[77] Rapps finished the season with a .261 batting average with 30 doubles, five triples and ten home runs in 148 games played. In 1914, Rapps was asked to be Topeka's backup catcher.[78][79] Early in the season, Rapps splintered a bone in his right hand.[80] During one of the final games of the season in late September 1914, The Topeka State Journal wrote, "About the only highlights in the gloomy picture was furnished by Willie Rapps with his polite vaudeville."[81]

After the 1914 season, Rapps was awarded the House Cup, which was bestowed upon the most useful player on the Topeka roster.[82] The cup was donated by and named for Topeka Mayor Jay E. House.[83] Rapps finished the season with a .307 batting average with 29 doubles, six triples and six home runs in 132 games played.[12] He returned to the Jayhawks in 1915.[84] On the last game of the season, on September 6, Rapps was Topeka's starting pitcher. He walked on his hands upside-down to the pitchers mound and did a handspring to start the game. The game was called by the umpire in the fifth inning with the score tied at 1–1. The Topeka State Journal wrote the game was called for "quality". Rapps struck out four batters in five innings of work.[85] He finished the season with a .253 batting average with 13 doubles, five triples and one home run in 100 games played.[12] Rapps was the subject of a poem entitled Who? written by Topeka sports fan Carl Edwards.[86] Rapps returned to his farm in Missouri during the off-season. On Christmas Eve, Rapps dressed as Santa Claus and distributed gifts to the children of his town.[87]

Rapps announced he was looking to take a managerial position for the upcoming 1916 season.[88] Jayhawks general manager John Savage assisted Rapps in trying to secure a managerial job, and gave him permission to seek out deals and negotiate on his own behalf.[89] In March 1916, Rapps was given his release from Topeka.[90] The Omaha Daily Bee reported on Rapps release, writing, "Topeka will be minus one of its drawing cards this year. Roaring Bill Rapps, human windbag and comedian extraordinary, has been given his unconditional release. Roaring Bill was always popular in Omaha because of his pep and ginger on the field and his comedy. [...] This is one city that will miss him."[91] On April 4, 1916 Rapps signed with the Wichita Witches.[92] The team was managed by Jim Jackson, who was Rapps' manager in Topeka the prior season.

In the Spring of 1916, a tornado went through Rapps' property is Missouri and did considerable damage. His farm was covered by a tornado insurance policy.[93] During the 1916 season, Rapps batted .289 with 20 doubles, three triples and one home run in 134 games played.[12] He re-signed with Wichita in 1917, but on April 30 was sold to the Dubuque Dubs of the Class D Central Association.[94][95] That season was Rapps' final in professional baseball. He finished with a .274 batting average with 83 hits in 303 at bats.[12]

Later life

Following his professional career, Rapps continued playing baseball on the amateur and semi-pro circuits. He played for the Rich Hill baseball team in 1919.[96] Rapps was a Republican election judge for Butler County, Missouri during the 1918 general election.[97] By 1920, he was living with his wife Lillie Pearl and two children on his farm in Missouri.[98] Rapps worked as a manager for the agricultural cooperative Missouri Farmers Association (now known as MFA Incorporated).[99]

The Rapps sued the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad in 1943 for $2,500 in property damage after a fire from their railyard in Schell City, Missouri spread to the Rapps' adjacent grocery and feed store.[100][101] They rebuilt their store in Iola, Kansas in 1946.[102]

Bill and Lillie Pearl Rapps celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on April 7, 1965 at the McAtee Nursing Home in Iola.[103] Bill Rapps died on April 20, 1965 in Iola and was interned at Green Lawn Cemetery in Schell City, Missouri.[12][104]

gollark: My dedicated server only has 4GB of RAM total, I'm afraid, and is busy with my personal MC server.
gollark: If you want something in this area I think the RX 550 (also AMD) is similar.
gollark: They do have passively cooled variants at least.
gollark: It's roughly equivalent to Ryzen APU graphics. And still bad.
gollark: Also, how would your Computron not be able to support GTX cards? Power connectors? GTX 1050 (Ti)s don't have those. If you do have a spare PCIe power connector go for an AMD RX 570.

References
  1. "Over the Western Association". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. August 10, 1905. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  2. "Western Association Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. July 14, 1906. p. 12. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  3. "Beavers Will Take Barnstorming Trip". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. December 14, 1912. p. 7. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  4. "Western Association Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. June 20, 1907. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  5. "Over the Western Association". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. August 19, 1905. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  6. "Western Association Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. May 7, 1908. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  7. "Western Association Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. June 16, 1908. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  8. "William H Rapps". The Iola Register. Iola, Kansas. 21 April 1965. p. 2. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  9. Petrain, W. J. (August 7, 1910). "Rapps Big Winner; First Baseman on Beaver Team Makes Good". The Sunday Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. p. 14. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  10. "Whoop-ee! Here's Roaring Bill". The Oregon Daily Journal. Portland, Oregon. August 27, 1911. p. 34. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  11. "Untitled". The Erie Record. Erie, Missouri. 1 September 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  12. "Bill Rapps Minor League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  13. "Untitled". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. July 25, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  14. "Topeka Won It". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. September 2, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  15. "Untitled". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. August 23, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  16. "Whats the Score". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kasnas. July 22, 1904. p. 5. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  17. "What the Valley League Players are Doing". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. July 26, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  18. "Untitled". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. August 30, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  19. "Orioles Shut Out". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. September 3, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  20. "What the Valley League Players are Doing". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. September 6, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  21. "What the Valley League Players are Doing". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. September 5, 1904. p. 5. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  22. "Missouri Valley League Echoes". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. October 1, 1904. p. 5. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  23. "Over the Western Association". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. April 20, 1905. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  24. "Over the Western Association". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. June 5, 1905. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  25. "Over the Western Association". The Topeka state journal. Topeka, Kansas. June 8, 1905. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  26. "Sox Second Best". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. August 29, 1905. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  27. "They Are Leaders". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. January 21, 1906. p. 13. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  28. "Untitled". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. 23 August 1904. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  29. "The Topeka State Journal". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. April 3, 1906. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  30. "Western Association Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. April 30, 1906. p. 11. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  31. "Western Association Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. May 22, 1906. p. 6. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  32. "Leavenworth 4, Joplin 3". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. July 26, 1906. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  33. "Baseball Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. April 6, 1907. p. 10. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  34. "Western Association Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. April 15, 1907. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  35. "Western Association Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. May 16, 1907. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  36. "Western Association Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. August 1, 1907. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  37. "Western Association Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. May 10, 1907. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  38. "Western Association Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. July 25, 1907. p. 3. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  39. "Western Association Gossip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. August 27, 1908. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  40. "Untitled". The Rich Hill Tribune. Rich Hill, Missouri. April 8, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  41. "Untitled". The Rich Hill Tribune. Rich Hill, Missouri. April 22, 1909. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  42. "Western League Notes". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. July 12, 1909. p. 2. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  43. "W. H. Rapps Papa". The Rich Hill Tribune. Rich Hill, Missouri. August 12, 1909. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  44. "1909 Texas League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  45. "Western League Notes". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. September 13, 1909. p. 2. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  46. Petrain, W. J. (March 17, 1910). "McCredie's Boys Reach San Jose". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. p. 8. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  47. "Fandom at Random". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. March 26, 1910. p. 7. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  48. "Beavers Wallop Visiting Senators". The San Francisco Call. San Francisco, California. April 26, 1911. p. 15. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  49. "Blank Welcome to Hogan Up North". The San Francisco Call. San Francisco, California. May 3, 1911. p. 13. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  50. "1910 Pacific Coast League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  51. "McCredie Lining Up 1911 Squad". The Sunday Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. December 18, 1910. p. 54. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  52. "Fandom at Random". The Sunday Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. October 16, 1910. p. 17. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  53. "Portland Takes Double Header and Annexes First Place". The San Francisco Call. San Francisco, California. September 18, 1911. p. 7. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  54. Petrain, W. J. (September 21, 1911). "Notes of the Game". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. p. 8. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  55. "1911 Pacific Coast League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  56. "Untitled". The Oregon Daily Journal. Portland, Oregon. January 28, 1912. p. 34. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  57. "Fandom at Random". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. November 18, 1911. p. 7. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  58. "Fandom at Random". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. November 21, 1911. p. 8. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  59. "Winter Finds Baseball Men Scattered Broadcast in Various Lines of Work". The Sunday Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. February 11, 1912. p. 19. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  60. "Beavers' Chief Home to Rest Up". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. October 25, 1911. p. 8. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  61. "Barry Is Cinched to Head Seattle". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. January 3, 1912. p. 7. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  62. "Rapps and Doane Sign Contracts". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. February 20, 1912. p. 7. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  63. Fawcett, Roscoe (March 27, 1912). "Tardiness Sends Veasey to Class B". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. p. 8. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  64. "Notes of the Game". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. August 21, 1912. p. 6. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  65. "Diagram Showing Three Unassisted Triple Plays on Record in Pacific Coast League". The Sunday Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. September 22, 1912. p. 25. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  66. Fawcett, Roscoe (October 28, 1912). "Coast League Race One of the Best Ever". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. p. 8. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  67. Fawceett, Roscoe (September 28, 1912). "Seals Break Mark Set By Klawitter". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. p. 16. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  68. "Bill Rapps to Play in Winter League". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. 4 August 1912. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  69. "McCredie Says He Has 7 Who Hit .300". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. November 4, 1912. p. 18. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  70. Fawcett, Roscoe (February 9, 1913). "Toledo Will Get Benny Henderson". The Sunday Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. p. 21. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  71. "Class B for Rapps". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. February 12, 1913. p. 12. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  72. Fawcett, Roscoe (February 15, 1913). "Rapps Purchased by Topeka Club". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. p. 16. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  73. Cronin, R. A. (May 15, 1917). "As the Crow Flies". The Oregon Daily Journal. Portland, Oregon. p. 10. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  74. "Winter Sports News". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. February 15, 1913. p. 3. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  75. "Three New Men". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. February 18, 1913. p. 3. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  76. "Rapps in Topeka". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. March 15, 1913. p. 3. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  77. "Game Called Off". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. September 25, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  78. "Kaws Go South". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. March 9, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  79. "In Training Camp". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. March 14, 1914. p. 2. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  80. "Gossip of the Game". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. May 25, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  81. "In Sad Tidings". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. September 21, 1914. p. 3. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  82. "Ex-Beaver Wins Topeka Cup". Morning Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. October 13, 1914. p. 13. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  83. Parsons, Harvey (September 28, 1914). "It Is All Over". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. p. 3. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  84. "Sport Wheezes". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. April 2, 1915. p. 3. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  85. "Season Is Over". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. September 7, 1915. p. 3. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  86. Edwards, Carl (September 8, 1915). "Who?". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. p. 3. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  87. "Two Savages Wed". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. December 24, 1915. p. 3. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  88. "Sports Wheezes". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. January 13, 1916. p. 10. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  89. "Pre-Season Trip". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. February 26, 1916. p. 9. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  90. "Sports Wheezes". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. March 6, 1916. p. 12. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  91. "Rapps is Released". Omaha Daily Bee. Omaha, Nebraska. March 19, 1916. p. 41. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  92. "Rapps to Wichita". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. April 4, 1916. p. 1. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  93. "Cyclone Hits Rapps". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. May 13, 1916. p. 8. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  94. "Rapps Holds On". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. April 5, 1917. p. 10. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  95. "Rapps Sold by Wichita?". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. April 30, 1917. p. 3. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  96. ""Roaring" Bill Rapps Was Hitting". The Kansas City Times. Kansas City, Missouri. 29 September 1919. p. 12. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  97. "The Butler Weekly Times". Butler County, Missouri. Butler County, Missouri. October 31, 1918. p. 10. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  98. 1920 United States Census. United States Census Bureau
  99. "Missouri Man Buys Kentucky Street Store". The Iola Register. Iola, Kansas. 13 June 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  100. "Crash of Katy Engines at Schell City Cause for $2,500 damages". Southwest Mail and The Weekly Post. Nevada, Missouri. 21 May 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  101. "Untitled". Southwest Mail and The Weekly Post. Nevada, Missouri. 20 November 1942. p. 5. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  102. "Untitled". The Iola Register. Iola, Kansas. 13 June 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  103. "Society". The Iona Register. Iola, Kansas. 8 April 1965. p. 3. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  104. "Minor League Player Deaths through September 23, 2000 - Issue #3" (PDF). SABR.org. Society of American Baseball Research. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.