Pitcher
Born: December 22, 1910 Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania
Died: March 7, 1980 (Aged 69-73d) Robesonia, Pennsylvania
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Teams
Pine Bluff Judges 1939
Boston Braves 1944
Stan Klopp was a pitcher for the 1939 Pine Bluff Judges.
The Pine Bluff Judges entered the 1939 season trying to improve on a 6th place finish (60-73) in the Cotton States League in 1938. The team’s major league class C affiliation had also changed from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Brooklyn Dodgers, bringing in a whole new team of young prospects looking to make their way to the big leagues.
One of those Brooklyn Dodger prospects was 28 year old pitcher Stan “Betz” Klopp. Entering his 3rd professional season, Klopp arrived in Pine Bluff after 2 seasons with the Clinton Owls of the class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League.
Klopp appeared in 28 games, pitching 194 innings for the Judges and accumulating 13 wins, 8 loses, with a 3.53 ERA. He would lead the Judges in wins in 1939.
After a successful season baseball became less important to Klopp and most of America as World War II started. Klopp decided to give up baseball and go to work to support his family. As he worked to support his family, Klopp still loved baseball, and he would find his way back to a baseball diamond in the form of semi-pro baseball. In June of 1944, playing baseball for fun led to a Boston Braves scout to stumble upon Klopp. The scout would sign Klopp to a contract for $850 per month.
4 years after giving up the game of baseball, 33 year old rookie Stan Klopp found himself on the field for Boston Braves of the National League. Pitching in relief, Klopp appeared in 24 games, pitching 46.1 innings for the Braves and accumulating 1 wins, 2 losses, with a 4.27 ERA. Klopp would pitch for the Braves until August of 1944 when they sent him down to the minor leagues. At 33 years old, Klopp decided it was time to go home and left the game of baseball for good.
SABR.org Oral History Collection has a 1973 interview with Stan Klopp.
