Joe Koppe
Encyclopedia
Joseph Koppe born Joseph Kopchia in Detroit, Michigan
, was an American
Major League Baseball
player for the Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies
, and Los Angeles Angels.
Koppe made his major league debut on August 9, 1958, for the Braves. He appeared in 16 games for Milwaukee in the later part of the season, but did not make an appearance when the Braves won the National League pennant and went to the World Series
. Just prior to the season, Joe was traded to the Phillies as part of a six-player deal.
Koppe came into his own in Philadelphia. He played in 126 games (113 at shortstop
) in his true rookie season. He put up a respectable offensive season, hitting .261 with 18 doubles, 7 home runs, and 7 triples and scoring 68 runs. His 7 triples placed 8th in the National League.
He injured his wrist in and missed all but 58 games. He played just 9 more games with the Phillies in and was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
in May, 1961. Koppe saw no playing time for the Cardinals and did not see any major league action for a full month. Joe was purchased by the Angels on June 19, 1961.
As an Angel, Joe made a serious effort to return to the performance level of his rookie season. Unfortunately, he never saw more than 375 at-bats in any season for the Angels and finished his career with the team a .236 hitter. Koppe was primarily a middle infielder, however, and was always able to contribute defensively.
Joe Koppe died on September 27, 2006, in Detroit, Michigan
, after a seven-year bout with cancer.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player for the Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and Los Angeles Angels.
Koppe made his major league debut on August 9, 1958, for the Braves. He appeared in 16 games for Milwaukee in the later part of the season, but did not make an appearance when the Braves won the National League pennant and went to the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. Just prior to the season, Joe was traded to the Phillies as part of a six-player deal.
Koppe came into his own in Philadelphia. He played in 126 games (113 at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
) in his true rookie season. He put up a respectable offensive season, hitting .261 with 18 doubles, 7 home runs, and 7 triples and scoring 68 runs. His 7 triples placed 8th in the National League.
He injured his wrist in and missed all but 58 games. He played just 9 more games with the Phillies in and was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in May, 1961. Koppe saw no playing time for the Cardinals and did not see any major league action for a full month. Joe was purchased by the Angels on June 19, 1961.
As an Angel, Joe made a serious effort to return to the performance level of his rookie season. Unfortunately, he never saw more than 375 at-bats in any season for the Angels and finished his career with the team a .236 hitter. Koppe was primarily a middle infielder, however, and was always able to contribute defensively.
Joe Koppe died on September 27, 2006, in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, after a seven-year bout with cancer.