2009 Hall of Fame member Thornton Kipper
August 29, 2009 | General News
Every day this week one of the seven members of the University of Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2009 will be celebrated. The Hall of Fame induction is Friday, Sept. 4 outside the Camp Randall Memorial Sports Center. The 6 p.m. ceremony is open to the public. Today's celebrant is baseball player Thornton Kipper.
A standout pitcher for the University of Wisconsin, Thornton Kipper earned All-Big Ten and All-America honors in baseball in 1950, and played for the Badgers in 1946 and from 1948-50.
A resident of Bagley, Wis., Kipper pitched for the Badgers in 1946 before joining the Navy. He returned in 1948 and had 25 strikeouts in six games, and pitched four complete games in the Big Ten season while earning a 5-0 conference record. His 11-1 pitching record led the Badgers to the co-Big Ten title and the NCAA tournament where he won two games while leading UW to a fourth-place finish in the NCAA College World Series.
He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and appeared in 55 games in the major leagues from 1953-55. Kipper compiled a 3-4 major league record and a save. He pitched 99 innings, collected 35 strikeouts and posted a 5.27 ERA.
Following his career in baseball, he worked in a paper mill in Lewiston, Idaho, and served as a pitching coach at Lewis-Clark State College and Mountain Pointe High School. He died on March 29, 2006 in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the age of 77.
The members of the class of 2009 include Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne (1996-99); NFL lineman Joe Panos (1991-93); All-American runner Claire Eichner (1988-92); basketball player Robin Threatt (1988-93), and in the heritage category, baseball player Thornton Kipper (1946-50). Coach/administrator Bill Reddan (first soccer coach 1977-81 and club coach 13 years) and Mendota Gridiron Executive Director Wayne Esser in the special category are also to be inducted.
