John Papa, Date of Birth, Place of Birth
TweetJohn Papa
American baseball player
Date of Birth: 05-Dec-1940
Place of Birth: Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States
Profession: baseball player
Nationality: United States
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius 
About John Papa
- John Paul Papa (born December 5, 1940) is an American former professional baseball player.
- Papa, a right-handed pitcher, appeared in three Major League games, all in relief, for the Baltimore Orioles in 1961–1962, and spent the remainder of his career in minor league baseball.
- He attended the University of Bridgeport and the University of New Haven, stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86 kg). Papa signed with the Orioles in 1958 for a $65,000 bonus.
- That season, Major League Baseball rescinded the infamous "bonus rule" that would have mandated that the Orioles keep Papa on their 25-man roster for two full seasons; the rule was blamed for wrecking the careers of numerous "bonus babies" whose talents rusted on the bench, rather than being developed in the minors.
- Sent to the Baltimore farm system, Papa hurt his arm in his third pro season, trying to throw the slider in Class B.
- But he made the Baltimore opening-season 28-man roster in 1961 at the age of 20.In his big-league debut, on April 11, 1961 — Opening Day for the Orioles, and the first American League game in the history of the Los Angeles Angels franchise — Papa was called into the game in the top of the second inning to relieve an ineffective Milt Pappas.
- He surrendered a three-run home run to the first batter he faced, Ted Kluszewski — Kluszewski's second homer in two innings.
- But he struck out the next batter, Bob Cerv, to end the inning.
- Five days later, he again was called upon to take over for an ineffective starting pitcher: in this case, Chuck Estrada, who failed to record an out in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins.
- Papa struck out two hitters, Earl Battey and Billy Gardner, but gave up three bases on balls, a single and one earned run before he was relieved by Dick Hall.
- He then was sent back to the minors, but compiled a frustrating 0–11 season split between Double-A and Triple-A Oriole affiliates.
- In 1962, Papa appeared in one game, in the Major Leagues, on September 16.
- In one inning, he gave up three hits, three earned runs and one walk against the Kansas City Athletics.
- In his three MLB appearances, he gave up five hits and five earned runs in two full innings pitched, walking four and striking out three. His minor career continued through 1965.
- After getting a degree in business administration, Papa became a businessman and elected municipal official in Shelton, Connecticut.
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