Nig Cuppy
Encyclopedia
George Joseph "Nig" Cuppy (July 3, 1869 – July 27, 1922) was an American
baseball
pitcher
during the 1890s. He spent nine years of his 10-year major league career as the number two starter behind Cy Young
.
Cuppy was born George Maceo Koppe in Logansport, Indiana
(it is unclear at what point he changed his name but "Cuppy" is the phonetic spelling of the German name "Koppe"). His rookie season came with the Cleveland Spiders
in 1892, two years after Cy Young's debut with the team. In his first season Cuppy recorded an ERA
of 2.51 and a record of 28-13, a performance better than either of Young's first two major league seasons. However, Cuppy was never able to match these figures. In 1893 the distance between the pitcher's mound and home plate increased from 50 feet to 60 feet, 6 inches. Although he remained an effective pitcher throughout the rest of his career, after this rule was enacted he never recorded an ERA under 3.00.
On August 9, 1895, Cuppy scored five runs against the Chicago Colts
in an 18-6 victory, the most runs ever scored by a pitcher in a major league baseball game. In 3 post-season appearances with the Spiders (1892, 1895–96) he compiled a 1-4 record. In three of his four losses, his teammates were shut out.
Cuppy remained with the Spiders until March 29, 1899, when the club's owners transferred him, along with the majority of the roster, to their other team, the St. Louis Perfectos
. He spent only one season with the Perfectos before being sold to the Boston Beaneaters
on May 23, 1900. The 1900 season was the only year of his career in which he did not pitch with Young. At the end of the season, during which he had recorded an ERA of 3.04 and a win-loss record of 8-4, he moved across town to the newly formed Boston Americans
.
The 1901 season, Cuppy's last in major league baseball, resulted in the only season in which he had a losing record, albeit he did have a career-low 13 appearances. Cuppy was released by Boston in August 1901.
Cuppy died at the age of 53 in Elkhart, Indiana
. He was interred at the Rice Cemetery in Elkhart.
reference to his dark complexion. In the first half of the 20th Century, before the game was integrated, ballplayers with a dark complexion were sometimes nicknamed "Nig." In addition to Cuppy, the following other major league players bore the nickname: Johnny Beazley
(1941–49), Joe Berry
(1921–22), Bobby Bragan
(1940–48), Nig Clarke
, Nig Fuller
(1902), Johnny Grabowski
(1923–31), Don Gutteridge
(1936–1948), Nig Lipscomb
(1937), Charlie Niebergall
(1921–24), Nig Perrine
(1907), and Frank Smith (1904–15).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
during the 1890s. He spent nine years of his 10-year major league career as the number two starter behind Cy Young
Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his 22-year baseball career , he pitched for five different teams. Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937...
.
Cuppy was born George Maceo Koppe in Logansport, Indiana
Logansport, Indiana
Logansport is a city in and the county seat of Cass County, Indiana, United States. The population was 18,396 at the 2010 census. Logansport is located in northern Indiana, at the junction of the Wabash and Eel rivers, northeast of Lafayette.-History:...
(it is unclear at what point he changed his name but "Cuppy" is the phonetic spelling of the German name "Koppe"). His rookie season came with the Cleveland Spiders
Cleveland Spiders
The Cleveland Spiders were a Major League Baseball team which played between 1887 and 1899 in Cleveland, Ohio. The team played at National League Park from 1889 to 1890 and at League Park from 1891 to 1899.- 1887-1891 :...
in 1892, two years after Cy Young's debut with the team. In his first season Cuppy recorded an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 2.51 and a record of 28-13, a performance better than either of Young's first two major league seasons. However, Cuppy was never able to match these figures. In 1893 the distance between the pitcher's mound and home plate increased from 50 feet to 60 feet, 6 inches. Although he remained an effective pitcher throughout the rest of his career, after this rule was enacted he never recorded an ERA under 3.00.
On August 9, 1895, Cuppy scored five runs against the Chicago Colts
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in an 18-6 victory, the most runs ever scored by a pitcher in a major league baseball game. In 3 post-season appearances with the Spiders (1892, 1895–96) he compiled a 1-4 record. In three of his four losses, his teammates were shut out.
Cuppy remained with the Spiders until March 29, 1899, when the club's owners transferred him, along with the majority of the roster, to their other team, the St. Louis Perfectos
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...
. He spent only one season with the Perfectos before being sold to the Boston Beaneaters
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
on May 23, 1900. The 1900 season was the only year of his career in which he did not pitch with Young. At the end of the season, during which he had recorded an ERA of 3.04 and a win-loss record of 8-4, he moved across town to the newly formed Boston Americans
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
The 1901 season, Cuppy's last in major league baseball, resulted in the only season in which he had a losing record, albeit he did have a career-low 13 appearances. Cuppy was released by Boston in August 1901.
Cuppy died at the age of 53 in Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
. He was interred at the Rice Cemetery in Elkhart.
Nickname
His nickname, "Nig", is often adjudged to be a racistRacism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
reference to his dark complexion. In the first half of the 20th Century, before the game was integrated, ballplayers with a dark complexion were sometimes nicknamed "Nig." In addition to Cuppy, the following other major league players bore the nickname: Johnny Beazley
Johnny Beazley
John Andrew Beazley was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Braves...
(1941–49), Joe Berry
Joe Berry (second baseman)
Joseph Howard Berry, Jr. was a professional baseball second baseman and pinch runner, and an All-American football halfback....
(1921–22), Bobby Bragan
Bobby Bragan
Robert Randall Bragan was a shortstop, catcher, manager, and coach in American Major League Baseball. He also was an influential executive in minor league baseball...
(1940–48), Nig Clarke
Nig Clarke
Jay Justin "Nig" Clarke was a professional baseball player in Major League Baseball. He is best known for, in 1902 playing for Texas League's Corsicana Oil Citys, going 8 for 8 with 8 home runs...
, Nig Fuller
Nig Fuller
Charles F. Fuller , is a former professional baseball player who played catcher for the Brooklyn Superbas in three games during the 1902 baseball season.-External links:...
(1902), Johnny Grabowski
Johnny Grabowski
John Patrick Grabowski , nicknamed "Nig", was a Major League Baseball catcher who played 7 seasons for the Chicago White Sox , New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers .Born in Ware, Massachusetts to a family of Polish descent, Grabowski played 296 major league games—282 of them as a catcher...
(1923–31), Don Gutteridge
Don Gutteridge
Donald Joseph Gutteridge was an American second and third baseman, coach and manager in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates, and later managed the Chicago White Sox in 1969-1970...
(1936–1948), Nig Lipscomb
Nig Lipscomb
Gerard "Nig" Lipscomb was a Major League Baseball second baseman who played with the St. Louis Browns in .-External links:...
(1937), Charlie Niebergall
Charlie Niebergall
Charles Arthur Niebergall was a catcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
(1921–24), Nig Perrine
Nig Perrine
John Grover "Nig" Perrine was an American baseball infielder.Perrine started his professional baseball career in 1902, at the age of 17. In 1906, he hit .308 in the American Association and was purchased by the Washington Senators; however, Perrine was sent back down to the AA after hitting .171...
(1907), and Frank Smith (1904–15).