LaVerne Ashford Chappell, US Army, (February 19, 1890-November 8, 1919)
Larry Chappell was considered a can’t miss prospect. As a member of the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association, Chappell tormented pitches with his ability to hit triples, the power move of the day. From his debut with the Eau Claire Commissioners of the Minnesota-Wisconsin League in 1911 through his first two seasons with the Brewers, Chappell hit 43 triples, including 17 in 1912.
The Chicago White Sox held high hopes for the outfielder, bringing him south to Comiskey Park in July of 1913. As a Major League hitter, the good average and ability to triple never panned out. By 1915, the White Sox let him go to the Cleveland Indians, a four player deal seeing Shoeless Joe Jackson come to Chicago’s South Side.
Sold to the Boston Braves in 1916, Chappell moved to the west coast, eventually starring with the Salt Lake City Bees of the Pacific Coast League in 1918. In five big league seasons, Chappell appeared in 109 games, hitting .226 as a part-time corner outfielder.
When he dipped back into the minors, the batting average and triples bounced back. With Salt Lake in 1918, Chappell was hitting .325 with five home runs when he and several players left the team to serve.
A member of the Medical Corps, according to Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifices, Chappell was one of millions that fall to catch the Spanish Flu. As he served his duty at San Francisco’s Letterman General Hospital, he became a patient in late October and died three days before the armistice on November 8.
Buried in Jerseyville, Illinois Oak Grove Cemetery, Chappell was the last player to die in World War I.
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