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Merkle923 · 05-04-2016, 11:49 AM

Like the 1967 Jack Hamilton photo posted above, sometimes these images aren't just good shots - they also tell good stories.

Elvin Tappe had played for the Cubs as early as 1954 but had appeared in only 119 games spread over five seasons when an idea of his got wildly out of control. Tappe said that in 1959 or 1960 he had suggested to Chicago owner Phil Wrigley that Cubs minor leaguers would benefit from consistent coaching by a group of instructors who would rotate among the franchise's minor league clubs and work from an agreed-upon set of plans, goals, and methods.

The next thing he knew, Wrigley had heard the word "rotating coaches" and suddenly Tappe was one of more than a dozen men whom Wrigley had decided to move around not just among the minor league teams, but the major league one as well. And not just as coaches, but as managers.

Thus, just after his 34th birthday, El Tappe found himself as manager (or in Wrigley's parlance, Head Coach) of the Chicago Cubs. For two days. He won both games, and then was rotated back to being a mere ordinary coach. A week later he was Head Coach again, this time for 79 games through the end of August. Then another demotion. Then a third stint as the chief.

1962 was even more bizarre. Tappe opened the season as the Cubs' head coach, but after a 4-16 start he was returned to the rotating pool and apparently went to, or was at least scheduled to, go to the Cubs' farm in San Antonio to work there. Then Chicago had a catching crisis, and on May 21, three weeks after his fourth managerial tenure had ended, Tappe found himself starting behind the plate for the Cubs! By the time Chicago found itself at the Polo Grounds in early June (where these photos were taken), Tappe, who hadn't played in a game of any kind since 1960, had played in 14 of them and was batting around .300.

He remained on the active roster through July when he became a coach again. The next year he was the manager of the Cubs' AAA affiliate at Salt Lake City. Thus his resume from 1960 through 1963 reads as follows: Cubs Back-up Catcher, Cubs Coach, Cubs Head Coach, Cubs Coach, Cubs Head Coach, Cubs Coach, Cubs Head Coach, Cubs Coach, Cubs Head Coach, San Antonio Coach, Cubs Starting Catcher, Cubs Coach, Salt Lake City Manager.

So as he posed for these shots, Elvin Tappe was the starting catcher (and four times former manager) of the Chicago Cubs.

05-04-2016, 11:49 AM	#27711
Merkle923 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,185	Elvin Tappe 1954 Like the 1967 Jack Hamilton photo posted above, sometimes these images aren't just good shots - they also tell good stories. Elvin Tappe had played for the Cubs as early as 1954 but had appeared in only 119 games spread over five seasons when an idea of his got wildly out of control. Tappe said that in 1959 or 1960 he had suggested to Chicago owner Phil Wrigley that Cubs minor leaguers would benefit from consistent coaching by a group of instructors who would rotate among the franchise's minor league clubs and work from an agreed-upon set of plans, goals, and methods. The next thing he knew, Wrigley had heard the word "rotating coaches" and suddenly Tappe was one of more than a dozen men whom Wrigley had decided to move around not just among the minor league teams, but the major league one as well. And not just as coaches, but as managers. Thus, just after his 34th birthday, El Tappe found himself as manager (or in Wrigley's parlance, Head Coach) of the Chicago Cubs. For two days. He won both games, and then was rotated back to being a mere ordinary coach. A week later he was Head Coach again, this time for 79 games through the end of August. Then another demotion. Then a third stint as the chief. 1962 was even more bizarre. Tappe opened the season as the Cubs' head coach, but after a 4-16 start he was returned to the rotating pool and apparently went to, or was at least scheduled to, go to the Cubs' farm in San Antonio to work there. Then Chicago had a catching crisis, and on May 21, three weeks after his fourth managerial tenure had ended, Tappe found himself starting behind the plate for the Cubs! By the time Chicago found itself at the Polo Grounds in early June (where these photos were taken), Tappe, who hadn't played in a game of any kind since 1960, had played in 14 of them and was batting around .300. He remained on the active roster through July when he became a coach again. The next year he was the manager of the Cubs' AAA affiliate at Salt Lake City. Thus his resume from 1960 through 1963 reads as follows: Cubs Back-up Catcher, Cubs Coach, Cubs Head Coach, Cubs Coach, Cubs Head Coach, Cubs Coach, Cubs Head Coach, Cubs Coach, Cubs Head Coach, San Antonio Coach, Cubs Starting Catcher, Cubs Coach, Salt Lake City Manager. So as he posed for these shots, Elvin Tappe was the starting catcher (and four times former manager) of the Chicago Cubs. Attached Images