Virgil Stallcup

Thomas Virgil Stallcup
Nickname: Red
Born: Jan. 3, 1922 in Ravensford, NC
Died: May 2, 1989 in Greenville, SC
Debut: 1947 | Pos: SS
H: 6'3" | W: 185 | B: R | T: R

>> Visit the Virgil Stallcup biography on Baseball Almanac for complete statistics.

Virgil Stallcup made a name for himself in Textile Baseball in South Carolina. In 1938, he is documented as playing for teams in Chiquola, Mathews and Ware Shoals. His play caught the attention of the minor leagues and it was there that he would toil until he got his chance a few years later. 

He entered the minor leagues in 1941 as a third baseman. The following year, he switched to shortstop. His career was put on hold from 1942 until 1946 when Stallcup left the game to serve in the military.

Stallcup hit .340 for Jersey City in 1947 and got to make his major league debut on April 18, 1947 with the Cincinnati Reds. He didn't play much that season -- just a single at-bat in 8 games. Over the next four years, however, he would prove his worth as the Reds' shortstop. 

In 1948, he hit just .228, but drove in 65 RBI and hit 3 home runs. The following season, he raised his average to .254, driving in 45 runs and adding 3 home runs. Stallcup hit 8 home runs in each of the 1950 and 1951 season. 

He finished his career in St. Louis, playing in 30 games total in 1952 and 1953. 

After the 1949 season, Stallcup is reported to have taken part in a game in Ninety Six organized by major league pitcher Bill Voiselle. Voiselle had been moved by the story of a teen girl who had her arm amputated below her elbow because of a malignant tumor. 

Voiselle and Stallcup were joined in the game by other Textile Leaguers who had made it to the Major Leagues - Earl Wooten (Senators), Sammy Meeks (Reds) and Marvin Rackley (Dodgers). 

Stallcup died in Greenville on May 2, 1989.