Jim Zapp, American baseball player, Died at 92

James Stephen “Jim” Zapp was born on April 18, 1924, and died on September 30, 2016.

His nicknamed was “Zipper”.

He was an African American outfielder

Jim played in the Negro Leagues and minor leagues from 1945 to 1955.

He had spent a majority of his career with the Baltimore Elite Giants, Zapp is described as an above-average power and contact hitter.

At the time he started playing in integrated baseball with the Paris Lakers of the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League, he broke the league’s RBI record total for a single-season, which still stands today.

Afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease since the late-2000s, Zapp has been in declining health.

During January 2016, his family made a public statement notifying fans he is in the final stages of the disease and can no longer respond to fan mail.

Jim Zapp passed away at 92 years old.