Thornton Kipper
Born: 9/27/1928 in Bagley, WI, USA
Died: 3/29/2006 in Scottsdale, AZ, USA
MLB Debut: 1953-06-07 | Final Game: 1955-07-17
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Thornton John Kipper
Biography
Thornton Kipper was a professional baseball pitcher born in 1928, who played in Major League Baseball from 1953 to 1955. Making his debut during an era marked by the transition from the post-war years into the more competitive landscape of the mid-1950s, Kipper showcased his talents primarily with a focus on starting and relief pitching. Over the course of his career, he accumulated a record of 3-4 and posted an earned run average (ERA) of 5.27, with a total of 35 strikeouts and 1 save, reflecting the challenges pitchers faced in a league that was beginning to see an influx of powerful hitters.
Kipper's playing style was characterized by his versatility, as he was capable of both starting games and coming in for crucial relief appearances. Despite the ups and downs common to many pitchers of his era, he contributed to his teams with determination and a competitive spirit. While his career was relatively brief, Kipper remains a part of the rich tapestry of baseball history during a time when the game was evolving, and his contributions on the mound are remembered by those who followed the sport during the mid-20th century.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 55 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 99.0 | 128 | 58 | 12 | 46 | 35 | 5.27 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | PHI | NL | 3 | 3 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45.7 | 59 | 24 | 12 | 15 | 4.73 | -994.5 |
| 1954 | PHI | NL | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13.7 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 7.90 | -213.4 |
| 1955 | PHI | NL | 0 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.7 | 47 | 22 | 22 | 15 | 4.99 | -663.8 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0.125 | 0.125 | 0.125 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | PHI | NL | 20 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.091 | 0.0 |
| 1954 | PHI | NL | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | PHI | NL | 24 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 55 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | PHI | P | 20 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1954 | PHI | P | 11 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | PHI | P | 24 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 55 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin at Madison | Madison | WI | 1946, 1949, 1950 |