Danny Napoleon

Daniel Napoleon (January 11, 1942 – April 26, 2003) was a Major League Baseball left fielder from 1965 to 1966 with the New York Mets. Napoleon batted and threw right-handed.

Danny Napoleon
Left fielder
Born: (1942-01-11)January 11, 1942
Claysburg, Pennsylvania
Died: April 26, 2003(2003-04-26) (aged 61)
Trenton, New Jersey
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 14, 1965, for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1966, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Batting average.162
Home runs0
Runs batted in7
Teams

Early years

Napoleon played baseball, football, basketball and track at Trenton Central High School in Trenton, New Jersey. Shortly after graduation, his father passed away. While playing at Rider University, he caught the eye of the Mets, and signed as an amateur free agent with them prior to the 1964 season.[1]

He batted .351 with 36 home runs and 134 runs batted in his first year of professional baseball to carry the Auburn Mets to a 79-48 record and first place in the New York–Penn League. In order to protect him from being selected in the minor league draft, the Mets added him to their forty man roster.[2]

Baseball career

Napoleon made his major league debut on April 14, 1965 in the eleventh inning of an extra innings affair with the Houston Astros. He singled off Hal Woodeshick in his first major league at bat.[3] Ten days later, Napoleon hit a pinch hit bases loaded triple off the San Francisco Giants' Bob Shaw for his first three major league RBIs.[4]

Despite being predominantly an outfielder, Napoleon made his first six appearances on the field at third base. He saw most of his action as a pinch hitter or pinch runner, and was batting .176 with six RBIs when he was demoted to triple A in early August to receive more playing time. In thirty games with the Buffalo Bisons, Napoleon batted .274 with one home run and nine RBIs. He rejoined the Mets in September, and went 1-for-23.

He spent the 1966 season with the Jacksonville Suns. He was second on the team with fifteen home runs and third with 53 RBIs. He was called up to the Mets again that September, and batted .212 in twelve games.

Just as the 1967 season was getting underway, Napoleon and shortstop Eddie Bressoud were traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Art Mahaffey and infielders Jerry Buchek and Tony Martínez and Napoleon spent the 1967 with the Tulsa Oikers, the St. Louis Triple-A affiliate.

He batted .314 in 1969 for the Texas League's Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A team for the Cardinals. He played and coached with Arkansas through 1971, but never returned to the majors.

Life after baseball

In 1977, Napoleon played professional softball with the New Jersey Statesmen of the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL), playing alongside fellow Major League Baseball alumnus Curt Blefary.[5][6]

Napoleon also worked for the New Jersey State Department of Treasury and was an original employee at the Candlelight Lounge in Trenton. He was employed by General Motors at the time of his death. Napoleon died on April 26, 2003, survived by his wife and three children.[7]

References
  1. Rudel, Neil (2002). "Danny Napoleon, Sprung from Claysburg all the way to the New York Mets" (PDF). The Blair County Sports Hall Of Fame.
  2. "New York Mets". Sports Illustrated. April 19, 1965.
  3. "Houston Astros 7, New York Mets 6". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium. April 14, 1965.
  4. "New York Mets 7, San Francisco Giants 6". Baseball-Reference.com. Candlestick Park. April 24, 1965.
  5. "Clipped From The Baltimore Sun". August 6, 1977. p. 22 – via newspapers.com.
  6. "Clipped From The Record". January 8, 1978. p. 62 – via newspapers.com.
  7. "Daniel Napoleon Obituary (2003) - "The Times, Trenton,"". obits.nj.com.
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