Joe Tipton
Encyclopedia
Joe Hicks Tipton was a catcher
in Major League Baseball
from 1948 through 1954. Tipton, who was born in McCaysville, Georgia
, batted and threw right-handed.
In 1940, Tipton began his playing career in the Textile Industrial League with Brighton Mills in Shannon, Georgia
; Shannon is located near Rome
in Floyd County, Georgia
.
Tipton was a backup catcher - only once recording over 200 at bat
s - who in a seven-season major-league career was sold or traded five times. A good defensive catcher with a strong arm, he displayed some slugging power but remained as a bench player throughout his Major League career.
A World War II
veteran, Tipton led the Eastern League
with a .375 batting average
in 1947. He debuted in the majors with the 1948 World Champion
Cleveland Indians
, hitting .289 in 47 games
as a backup for All-Star catcher Jim Hegan
. After the World Series, Tipton was traded to the Chicago White Sox
for Joe Haynes (Haynes was subsequently traded to the Washington Senators
three weeks later).
Before the 1950 season, the White Sox made one of the best trades in franchise history when they sent Tipton to the Philadelphia Athletics for a young player named Nellie Fox
. Athletics owner/manager
/GM
Connie Mack
signed off on the deal, sending the future Hall of Fame second baseman
to Chicago. Tipton supplied good backup to starting catcher Mike Guerra
, batting .266 with six home run
s and 20 RBI
in 64 games. A year later, he appeared in a career-best 72 games. Tipton returned to Cleveland in the 1952 midseason. That year, combined between the A's and Indians, he posted career-highs in home runs (nine) and RBI (30) in 66 games. After one more season with the Indians, he finished his career with the Washington Senators in 1954.
Tipton was a .236 hitter with 29 home runs and 125 RBI in 417 games.
He died in Birmingham, Alabama
, at age 72.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in 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...
from 1948 through 1954. Tipton, who was born in McCaysville, Georgia
McCaysville, Georgia
McCaysville is a city in Fannin County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,071 at the 2000 census.-Geography:McCaysville is located at...
, batted and threw right-handed.
In 1940, Tipton began his playing career in the Textile Industrial League with Brighton Mills in Shannon, Georgia
Shannon, Georgia
Shannon is a census-designated place in Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the 'Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 1,682 at the 2000 census.-Demographics:...
; Shannon is located near Rome
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
in Floyd County, Georgia
Floyd County, Georgia
Floyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 90,565. Census estimates for 2007 show a population of 95,618...
.
Tipton was a backup catcher - only once recording over 200 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s - who in a seven-season major-league career was sold or traded five times. A good defensive catcher with a strong arm, he displayed some slugging power but remained as a bench player throughout his Major League career.
A World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran, Tipton led the Eastern League
Eastern League (U.S. baseball)
The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...
with a .375 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in 1947. He debuted in the majors with the 1948 World Champion
1948 World Series
The 1948 World Series matched the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Braves. The Braves had won the National League pennant for the first time since the "Miracle Braves" team of . The Indians spoiled a chance for the only all-Boston World Series by winning a one-game playoff against the Boston...
Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, hitting .289 in 47 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
as a backup for All-Star catcher Jim Hegan
Jim Hegan
James Edward Hegan was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played for seventeen seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to and from to , most notably for the Cleveland Indians. After his playing career was over, he became a coach and scout in a baseball...
. After the World Series, Tipton was traded to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for Joe Haynes (Haynes was subsequently traded to the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
three weeks later).
Before the 1950 season, the White Sox made one of the best trades in franchise history when they sent Tipton to the Philadelphia Athletics for a young player named Nellie Fox
Nellie Fox
Jacob Nelson Fox was a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Chicago White Sox. Fox was born in St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania. He was selected as the MVP of the American League in...
. Athletics owner/manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
/GM
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
signed off on the deal, sending the future Hall of Fame second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
to Chicago. Tipton supplied good backup to starting catcher Mike Guerra
Mike Guerra
Fermin Guerra born in Havana, Cuba was a catcher for the Washington Senators , Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox ....
, batting .266 with six home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 20 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 64 games. A year later, he appeared in a career-best 72 games. Tipton returned to Cleveland in the 1952 midseason. That year, combined between the A's and Indians, he posted career-highs in home runs (nine) and RBI (30) in 66 games. After one more season with the Indians, he finished his career with the Washington Senators in 1954.
Tipton was a .236 hitter with 29 home runs and 125 RBI in 417 games.
He died in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, at age 72.