imported>Sc2353: removed Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in the United States; added Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in California using HotCat

2025-02-05T03:25:09Z

removed Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in the United States; added Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in California using HotCat

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{{Short description|American baseball player (1916–2006)}}
{{Hatnote|For the Australian rules footballer, see [[Sam Chapman (footballer)]]. For the British speedway rider, see [[Sam Chapman (speedway rider)]].}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name = Sam Chapman
| image = Sam Chapman WWII 1942.jpg
| caption = Chapman, circa 1942
| position = [[Center fielder]]
| bats = Right
| throws = Right
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1916|4|11|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Tiburon, California]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2006|12|22|1916|4|11|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Kentfield, California]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
| debutdate = May 16
| debutyear = 1938
| debutteam = Philadelphia Athletics
|finalleague = MLB
| finaldate = September 22
| finalyear = 1951
| finalteam = Cleveland Indians
|statleague = MLB
| stat1label = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
| stat1value = .266
| stat2label = [[Home run]]s
| stat2value = 180
| stat3label = [[Runs batted in]]
| stat3value = 773
| teams =
* [[Philadelphia Athletics]] ({{Baseball year|1938}}–{{baseball year|1941}}, {{baseball year|1945}}–{{Baseball year|1951}})
* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{Baseball year|1951}})
| highlights =
* [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1946 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1946]])
* [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame]]
|module=
{{Infobox college football player|embed=yes
| name = Sam Chapman
| school = University of California at Berkeley
| image =
| currentnumber = 48
| currentposition = [[Halfback (American football)|Halfback]]
| pastschools =
* [[California Golden Bears football|Cal]] (1935–1937)
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| highschool = [[Tamalpais Union High School District|Tamalpais Union High School]]
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 188
|highlights=
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1937 College Football All-America Team|1937]])
* First-team [[List of All-Pac-12 Conference football teams|All-PCC]] ([[1937 All-Pacific Coast football team|1937]])
* [[1938 Rose Bowl]]
| CFBHOF_year = 1984
}}}}

'''Samuel Blake Chapman''' (April 11, 1916 – December 22, 2006) was an American two-sport athletic star who played as a [[center fielder]] in [[Major League Baseball]], spending nearly his entire career with the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] (1938–1941, 1945–1951). He batted and threw right-handed, leading the [[American League]] in [[putout]]s four times. He was previously an [[All-America]]n [[college football]] player at the [[University of California, Berkeley|University of California]].

==Early life==
Born in [[Tiburon, California]], Chapman graduated from [[Tamalpais High School]] in [[Mill Valley, California]] in 1934, with [[varsity letter|letters]] in [[American football|football]], baseball, [[basketball]] and [[Track and field|track]].

==College career==
Going to the university at the suggestion of Tamalpais football coach [[Roy Riegels]], Chapman starred in football for the [[California Golden Bears football|Golden Bears]] under head coach [[Stub Allison]], where he was first nicknamed "Sleepy Sam" due to his stolid temperament.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15148283/stub_allison_makes_five_shifts/ |title=Stub Allison Makes Five Shifts |newspaper=[[Oakland Tribune]] |date=September 11, 1936 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He was named an All-American for the 1937 [[Pacific Coast Conference]] and [[NCAA Division I-A national football championship|national champion]] "Thunder Team", which went on to win the [[1938 Rose Bowl]]; the last time California has won the game. Later nicknamed the "Tiburon Terror",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15148502/sam_chapman_greater_than_red_grange/ |title=Sam Chapman Greater Than Red Grange, Claims Allison |newspaper=[[Oakland Tribune]] |first=Art |last=Cohn |author-link=Art Cohn |date=October 13, 1937 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Chapman was also an All-American [[college baseball]] player.

==Professional career==
[[File:Sam Chapman.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Chapman depicted on a [[Bowman Gum]] baseball card in 1951.]]
Turning down a pro football career after being [[NFL draft|drafted]] in the third round of the [[1938 NFL draft]] by the [[Washington Redskins]] of the [[National Football League]], he made his debut with the Major Leagues Baseball [[History of the Philadelphia Athletics|Philadelphia Athletics]] on May 16, 1938, shortly after graduation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1938 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1938/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15145967/sam_chapman_signs_contract_with/ |title=Sam Chapman Signs Contract With Philadelphia Athletics |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 3, 1938 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He played most of the season in [[left fielder|left field]], moving to center field the following year. As a rookie, he [[batting average (baseball)|batted]] .259 with 17 [[home run]]s (second on the team to [[Bob Johnson (outfielder)|Bob Johnson]]) and 63 [[run batted in|runs batted in]]. His batting average and RBI total increased steadily in each of the next three campaigns, to .269/64 (1939) and .276/75 (1940) before peaking with a .322 average and 106 RBI in 1941. In the latter year he had his best season, finishing fifth in the AL in both [[slugging percentage|slugging average]] (.543) and [[total bases]] (300), with a career-best 25 home runs. On May 5, 1939, Chapman [[hitting for the cycle|hit for the cycle]] against the [[St. Louis Browns]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1939/B05050SLA1939.htm |title=Philadelphia Athletics 10, St. Louis Browns 5 |website=[[Retrosheet]] |date=May 5, 1939}}</ref>

He joined the [[United States Navy|Navy]] for World War II after the 1941 season,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15145377/sam_chapman_to_join_navy/ |title=Sam Chapman To Join Navy |newspaper=[[The Honolulu Advertiser]] |date=October 30, 1941 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> and served as a pilot and flight instructor in [[Corpus Christi, Texas]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15145604/winning_wings/ |title=Winning Wings |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |newspaper=[[The Courier-Journal]] |location=[[Louisville, Kentucky]] |date=February 5, 1943 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15145740/chapman_wins_wings_and_a_commission/ |title=Chapman Wins Wings and a Commission |newspaper=[[Abilene Reporter-News]] |location=[[Abilene, Texas]] |date=March 3, 1943 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He returned to the Athletics in late 1945,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15145803/sam_chapman_rejoins_as_discharged/ |title=Sam Chapman Rejoins A's; Discharged From Navy |agency=[[United Press International|UP]] |newspaper=[[The News Journal|The Morning News]] |location=[[Wilmington, Delaware]] |date=September 11, 1945 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> and was named to the AL [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team in 1946. But he never quite returned to his pre-war level of play; apart from 1949, when he batted .278 with 24 home runs (tied for third in the AL) and 108 RBI (fifth in the AL), he never exceeded a .261 average. He was traded to the [[Cleveland Indians]] in May 1951, and ended the year with a .215 batting mark; he left the major leagues at the end of that season, but played three more years for the [[Oakland Oaks (PCL)|Oakland Oaks]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]]. In an 11-season major league career, Chapman posted a .266 batting average with 180 home runs, 773 RBI, 754 [[run (baseball)|runs]], 1329 [[hit (baseball)|hits]] and 41 [[stolen base]]s in 1368 games. Playing at all three outfield positions and first base, Chapman recorded a .972 [[fielding percentage]].

==After baseball==
After leaving baseball, Chapman became an inspector for the [[Bay Area Air Quality Management District|Bay Area Air Pollution Control District]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15147904/smog_ban_bringing_few_howls_in_marin/ |title=Smog Ban Bringing Few Howls In Marin |newspaper=[[Marin Independent Journal|Daily Independent Journal]] |location=[[San Rafael, California]] |date=January 17, 1970 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He was elected to the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1984, and to the [[Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1987. In 1999, he was named to the [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame]]. In 2006, the Tiburon Town Council voted to commission a statue of Chapman to be installed at the Tiburon ferry landing.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.marinij.com/editorial/ci_4149602 |newspaper=[[Marin Independent Journal]] |location=[[Marin County, California]] |title=A fitting honor for a Tiburon legend |date=August 8, 2006}}</ref> That plan was later adjusted, and in 2012, a plaque honoring Chapman was dedicated at Point Tiburon Plaza.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.marinij.com/article/zz/20120608/NEWS/120608835 |newspaper=[[Marin Independent Journal]] |location=[[Marin County, California]] |title=Former big leaguer Sam Chapman honored in Tiburon |first=Will |last=Jason |date=June 8, 2012 |access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref>

Chapman died at an assisted-living residence in [[Kentfield, California]], at the age of 90, after suffering from [[Alzheimer's disease]] for several years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15143871/sam_chapman_former_philadelphia/ |title=Sam Chapman, former Philadelphia Athletics outfielder, dies at 90 |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |newspaper=[[The Sentinel (Pennsylvania)|The Sentinel]] |location=[[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]] |date=December 30, 2006 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{College Football HoF|id=1546}}
* {{cite news |url=http://www.marinij.com/general-news/20061226/sam-chapman-former-top-athlete-dies-at-90 |newspaper=[[Marin Independent Journal]] |title=Sam Chapman, former top athlete, dies at 90 |first=Dave |last=Albee |date=December 26, 2006}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-dec-29-me-chapman29-story.html |title=Sam Chapman, 90; halfback on last Cal team to win Rose Bowl |first=Claire |last=Noland |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=December 29, 2006}}
* {{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/SAM-CHAPMAN-1916-2006-Marin-star-was-5-sport-2541375.php |title=SAM CHAPMAN: 1916-2006 / Marin star was 5-sport letterman |first=Dwight |last=Chapin |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=December 30, 2006}}
* {{cite news |url=http://marinij.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=1484723&CategoryID=73827 |newspaper=[[Marin Independent Journal]] |title=Former big leaguer Sam Chapman honored in Tiburon |first=Alan |last=Dep |date=June 9, 2012}} (photo gallery)

==External links==
{{Baseballstats|br=c/chapmsa01|brm=chapma001sam}}, or [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/Pchaps101.htm Retrosheet]

{{S-start}}
{{S-ach|ach}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Odell Hale]] | title = [[Hitting for the cycle]]| years = May 5, 1939 | after = [[Charlie Gehringer]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Oakland Athletics}}
{{Philly Baseball Wall of Fame}}
{{1937 California Golden Bears football navbox}}
{{1937 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Redskins1938DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chapman, Sam}}
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:American League All-Stars]]
[[Category:United States Navy pilots of World War II]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Marin County, California]]
[[Category:California Golden Bears baseball players]]
[[Category:California Golden Bears football players]]
[[Category:Cleveland Indians players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in California]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball center fielders]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Athletics players]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:People from Tiburon, California]]
[[Category:Tamalpais High School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in California]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Marin County, California]]
[[Category:Military personnel from California]]

Sam Chapman - Revision history

imported>Sc2353: removed Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in the United States; added Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in California using HotCat