Rip Repulski

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#BC003A
bgcolor2=#BC003A
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Rip Repulski


position=Outfielder
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=October 4, 1927
deathdate=death date and age|1993|2|10|1927|10|4
debutdate=April 14
debutyear=by|1953
debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals
finaldate=June 18
finalyear=by|1961
finalteam=Boston Red Sox
stat1label=AVG
stat1value=.269
stat2label=HR
stat2value=106
stat3label=RBI
stat3value=416
teams=
*St. Louis Cardinals (by|1953-by|1956)
*Philadelphia Phillies (by|1957-by|1958)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|1959-by|1960)
*Boston Red Sox (by|1960-by|1961)
highlights=
*All star in 1956

Eldon John (Rip) Repulski (October 4, 1927 - February 10, 1993) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. From 1953 through 1961, he played with the St. Louis Cardinals (1953-56), Philadelphia Phillies (1957-58), Los Angeles Dodgers (1959-60) and Boston Red Sox (1960-61). Repulski batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. In a nine-season career, Repulski posted a .269 batting average with 106 home runs and 416 RBI in 928 games played.

A fine defensive player in any of the outfield positions, Repulski became the regular center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals in his 1953 rookie season. He appeared in a career-high 153 games and finished third in National League Rookie of the Year vote behind Jim Gilliam and Harvey Haddix.

Repulski enjoyed his most productive seasons in by|1954 and by|1955.

In by|1954, he hit 19 home runs and posted career-numbers in batting average (.283), runs (99), RBI (79) and doubles (39). From June 13-25 he had a string of ten straight games in which he collected two or more hits, going 22-for-44 (.500), half for extra bases. After that, he hit in six more consecutive games before going hitless.

In by|1955 Repulski posted career-highs in home runs (23), walks (49), on-base percentage (.333), slugging average (.467), OPS+ (110), and batting runs (7.7).

He earned an All-Star berth in by|1956. At the end of the season, he was sent to the Philadelphia Phillies in the same trade that brought Del Ennis to St. Louis.

Repulski hit 20 home runs for the Phillies in 1957. A year later, he was shipped to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with two other players in exchange for second baseman Sparky Anderson. He appeared in the 1959 World Series with the Dodgers.

Traded by Los Angeles to the Boston Red Sox in the 1960 midseason, Repulski hit a grand slam at Fenway Park on his first American League at bat. He played his last majors season with the Red Sox in 1961.

Repulski died in Waite Park, Minnesota, at age of 65.

ources

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/R/Repulski_Rip.stm Baseball Library] - profile and chronology
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/repulri01.shtml Baseball Reference] - statistics and analysis