Baseball History: Johnny Hodapp

Johnny Hodapp had already accomplished a first in baseball history.

In 1928, Hodapp was part of a 24-6 Cleveland win over the New York Yankees on July 29.

Hodapp had two hits in the second inning and then added two more hits in the sixth. As a result, he became the first American League player to have two hits in an inning twice in the same game. He would finish with five hits and knock in four runs.

A year later, Hodapp proved to be a nemesis for the Yankees again a he got things started for a huge inning for the Indians on August 4.

The day began with the Yankees pounding the Indians 12-0 in the first contest of a doubleheader. Hodapp didn’t get a hit.

Game two wasn’t much better for the Indians as they were down to their final out in Yankee Stadium as New York led 6-5.

The Indians had tried to tie the game as Earl Averill was credited with an infield single to third, but Ed Morgan was thrown out in a rundown trying to score.

In the end, that play would soon be forgotten.

Wilcy Moore was in line to get the victory for New York in relief of Herb Pennock, but everything soon fell apart for the Yankees.

Lew Fonseca reached on the second error of the inning for the Yankees and Fred Heimach was called to put out the fire by manager Miller Huggins.

Heimach would be too late to stop what was about to turn into a monumental barrage by the Indians.

Bibb Falk walked and that brought Hodapp to the plate. Hodapp’s infield single tied the game and began the onslaught.

After giving up three more singles, Heimach was taken off the mound without getting the final out as the Indians led 10-6.

Roy Sherid was the next victim. He surrendered a single to Morgan and a homer to Joe Sewell that gave the Indians their final margin of 14-6.

Best Season

The 1930 season was the best for Hodapp. He topped the AL with 225 hits and 51 doubles as he played in all 154 contests for the Indians at second base. He also had a career-high numbers with nine homers, 121 RBI and a .354 batting average.

Hodapp played nine years in the majors with eight in Cleveland from 1925 to 1932.

He was traded to the Chicago White Sox during the 1932 season and he ended his career with the Boston Red Sox in 1933. He finished with a .311 batting average.