Christopher Alan Clapinski (born August 20, 1971) is an American former
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL) ...
(MLB)
infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.
Standard arrangement of positions
In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...
who played for the
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The fra ...
in 1999 and 2000.
Biography
A native of
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...
, Clapinski attended
Palm Desert High School
Palm Desert High School is a secondary school located in Palm Desert, California. The school is a part of the Desert Sands Unified School District.
Academics
Palm Desert offers numerous Advanced Placement and Honors courses, amongst CP class ...
and the
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant u ...
. In 1990 and 1991, he played
collegiate summer baseball
Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operate ...
with the
Wareham Gatemen
The Wareham Gatemen are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Wareham, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's West Division. The Gatemen play their home games at Clem Spillane F ...
of the
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL or Cape League) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over one thous ...
.
In 1992, Clapinski signed with the
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The fra ...
as an amateur free agent. He made his major league debut for the Marlins in 1999, playing in 36 games for the club
that season, and in 34 games for Florida
the following season. While playing with the minor league
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen ...
in 2004, Clapinski appeared at every position except for
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, who attempts to e ...
and
catcher
Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the catcher ...
.
References
External links
, o
Pelota Binaria
1971 births
Living people
American expatriate baseball players in Canada
Baseball players from Buffalo, New York
Brevard County Manatees players
Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
California Golden Bears baseball players
Calgary Cannons players
Caribes de AnzoƔtegui players
Charlotte Knights players
Florida Marlins players
Gulf Coast Marlins players
Kane County Cougars players
Las Vegas 51s players
Louisville Bats players
Major League Baseball second basemen
Major League Baseball shortstops
Major League Baseball third basemen
Omaha Royals players
Pastora de los Llanos players
Portland Sea Dogs players
Wareham Gatemen players
American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
Palm Desert High School alumni
Baseball players from Riverside County, California
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