Joe Koppe

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Joe Koppe

|image=Joe Koppe 1961.jpg

|caption=Koppe in 1961

|position=Shortstop

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|1930|10|19}}

|birth_place=Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|2006|9|27|1930|10|19}}

|death_place=Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=August 9

|debutyear=1958

|debutteam=Milwaukee Braves

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 10

|finalyear=1965

|finalteam=California Angels

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.236

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=19

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=141

|teams=

Milwaukee Braves ({{mlby|1958}})
Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|1959}}–{{mlby|1961}})
Los Angeles / California Angels ({{mlby|1961}}–{{mlby|1965}})

|highlights=

1959 Topps All-Star Rookie Team

}}

Joseph Koppe (October 19, 1930 – September 27, 2006), born Joseph Kopchia,{{cite web|url=http://www.historicbaseball.com/players/k/koppe_joe.html|title=Joe Koppe: Shortstop played in eight seasons|date=2020|publisher=Historic Baseball|work=historicbaseball.com|accessdate=January 24, 2020}} was an American professional baseball shortstop, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Angels.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/koppejo01.shtml|title=Joe Koppe Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|date=2020|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=January 22, 2020}}

Career

Koppe made his big league debut on August 9, 1958, for the Braves. He appeared in 16 games for Milwaukee in the later part of the season, but did not make an appearance when the Braves won the National League pennant and went to the World Series. Just prior to the {{by|1959}} season, Koppe was traded to the Phillies as part of a six-player deal.

Koppe came into his own in his first season in Philadelphia. He saw action in 126 games (113 at shortstop), in his true rookie season. Koppe put up a respectable offensive season, hitting .261, with 18 doubles, seven triples, and seven home runs, while scoring 68 runs. His seven triples placed 8th in the National League (NL).

Koppe injured his wrist in {{by|1960}} and missed all but 58 games. He played just 9 more games with the Phillies in {{by|1961}} and was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who traded him again — just 12 days later — to the St. Louis Cardinals, in May, 1961. Koppe saw no playing time for the Cardinals and did not see any MLB action for a full month. He was purchased by the Angels on June 19, 1961.

As an Angel, Koppe made a serious effort to return to the performance level of his rookie season. He never saw more than 375 at-bats in any season for the Angels and finished his career with the team a .236 hitter. Koppe was primarily a middle infielder, however, and was always able to contribute defensively.