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Kelvin Chapman
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 179 of 1233 players
Kelvin Keith Chapman
Born: June 2, 1956 at Willits, Cal.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 5.11 Weight: 180

Kelvin Chapman was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on June 2, 2010, July 27, 2012, February 11, 2013, January 18, 2018, June 24, 2018, September 10, 2018, October 31, 2021, and February 28, 2022.

First Mets game: April 5, 1979
Last Mets game: July 24, 1985

Share your memories of Kelvin Chapman HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY: Paul Zibben Midsummer, 1984 - I'm leaving the U.S. to study abroad for a year, watching my last Met game of the season. We're down 5-1, and I'm pretty depressed. Chapman, of all people, comes up with the bases loaded - SLAM! - it's a tie game! I say, "Okay, we can go to the airport now." (The Mets won, of course.) Andy from Rego Park After a sensational spring training in the franchise's dark days of 1979 (no money for anybody or anything), Kelvin Chapman made the team as the starting second- baseman, pushing gold-glove caliber Doug Flynn to shortstop, and forcing Tim "Crazy Horse" Foli to the bench. Chapman's moment of fame lasted all of a week before Foli was dealt to Pittsburgh for speedy Frank Taveras. By May, Chapman, batting about .150, was back to Tidewater, not to reappear again until 1984 at the righthanded half of the Backman/Chapman platoon. Jon Best Kelvin we ever had. (Take that, Kelvin Torve!) David Grover May 25, 2001 He got either a homer or a hit in his first at bat. Not much after that. VIBaseball June 22, 2001 The best play Chapman ever made was in early '84 to save a game for rookie Doc Gooden. Pinch-hitter deluxe José "Shady" Morales got what was probably his last PH in the majors, and Dave Anderson ran for him. Met-killer R.J. Reynolds doubled into the right-center gap, but Chapman took the relay in medium right and nailed Anderson at the plate. The Mets won 2-1. Scrubbo McGlubbo April 3, 2002 Somehow I remember Kelvin Chapman being refered to, maybe by Bob Murphy, as "The Wonder Child." Maybe because he came up so young with such promise. To this day I can't say his name without adding the title "The Wonder Child." Larry Burns June 5, 2002 Wally Backman lookalike. He even played the same position, but the similarities trailed off after talent was taken into account. I remember him hitting a grand salami to tie a game and that's about it. Other than that he was the guy Backman drove out of the franchise. Another reason to love Wally! Robert September 10, 2002 I remembered Chapman as a valuable contributor to the 1984 team - the start of the Dave Johnson era - got a bunch of game winning hits that year as the right hand platoon of Backman - why did Wally ever even bother hitting right-handed? - but by next season had lost it completely. Paul December 19, 2002 I have been an autograph collector for over 20 years now. I remember asking Kelvin for his autograph at Shea one night, and he told me that the only way he signs is if you give him one card for every card he signed (and he was serious)! Mr. Sparkle December 20, 2002 His career was ruined by a spikes-a-flying slide into second by ex-Met Claudell Washington. He wasn't that great to begin with but he was never the same after. And Larry, I don't think he looks at all like Wally Backman. Helen October 10, 2003 I was so thrilled when Kelvin hit that grand slam at Shea, against the Giants. I had my friend's good camera, and captured the moment he crossed home plate, greeted by Darryl Strawberry, Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald and Danny Heep. It was a super exciting moment, as I had a crush on Kelvin. I thought Kelvin might want a memento of his grand slam, since he wasn't known to be a slugger, so I sent him a copy of the photo. Hoped for, but never got a thank-you. He probably got all the photos he wanted from the professional photographers! I was disappointed when he was released or sent back to Tidewater - I thought he was a good enough player to stay with the team (I was just a little biased.) Last I heard, many many years ago, is that he was working in a sporting goods store in northern California. Chris April 1, 2004 When I hear you guys talk about Kelvin it's a little strange. See I am a player of his, he is my coach in northern Califorina in a little town named Ukiah. He is a grape grower and I know he would love to hear from anyone with a nice memory of his time in the bigs. If you have anything to say or ask please e-mail me. Feat Fan April 9, 2004 Responding to a post from Chris earlier.... You know, the world is full of players like Kelvin Chapman. Good athletes that excelled in a game where it takes absolute excellence to really make it. For every super star there are 5,000 Kelvin Chapmans who were good enough to play major league ball but not in the elite group of stars. Makes me think about life. Here is Kelvin doing what he loves, coaching and teaching baseball. One of you young players will go on to play professional ball, maybe even big league ball. But it is the vital basics and love of the game that is offered to you now that will help get you there. Raw talent is not enough. I laugh when I read some of these insulting posts or listen to the rants of half baked ( and in some cases ) unintelligent fans on talk radio. The .199 hitters of the world are a billion times better than just about all of us, let's see me trying to hit a 94 mph heater or a nasty slider. It would be a joke watching me chase down a well hit towering fly ball! Forget the money that these players make, that's not their fault, just market conditions. Let's see one of us critical, disgruntled fan try to suceed in this game. Yes, the opposite is true as well. Let's see one of these spoiled millionaire prima donnas grind out a daily 9-5 life making 40k with a mortgage, kids and a nagging wife. So who are the real heros? Are there such a thing? Thanks to the Kelvin Chapmans of the world for reminding us how difficult it is to win at this game but how easy it is to love it! Joel April 10, 2004 My name is Joel and I have been a best friend of Kelvin's son Jason since I can remember. Kelvin has been running camps here in Ukiah for about 10 years now and going over the stuff he learned in the pros with all the kids. If you would like your kid to be in this camp e-mail me at hotshot_323@hotmail.com. He would love to see more kids and be able to share his power in baseball. Buzz March 13, 2005 I was at the Mets home opener in 1979 and the highly touted Kelvin Chapman was playing second base and batting second and in his first at bat he scorched one through the middle for a base hit. I thought we had the next Pete Rose on our hands but it never panned out. Funny how Chapman came back with the Mets in '84 (even though he was no longer the "golden boy") and had a decent year. Probably shows the type of guy he was; always hustling and never giving up. agee_of_aquarius March 19, 2006 Right up there with the longest eyelashes in Met history. And the guy could hit line drives, too. Jst September 16, 2007 I was 16 and had won a contest run by the Canarsie (Brooklyn) Courier that allowed me to go on the field and meet the players before the 1984 game when Kelvin hit that big grand slam. I thought he was so cute!! Right before he went up to bat, he winked and waved at me in the stands, then hit that baby out of the park. It was my own little Babe Ruth moment!! Pete Hamner April 22, 2009 Lived on the beach with Chap in extended spring training in 76 and played with him in Wausau, Wisconsin in 77. Just phenomenal for most of the year in Wausau. Was up in the high .300's for most of the year. Got tired and tailed off pretty good in the dog days of late August. Was a good guy and a very hard worker. ken May 5, 2009 I went to high school with Kelvin. He was a great baseball player but I thought he was even better at basketball. Good football player also. He had great ball handling skills and was very fast. I always wondered why he didn't get any big college offers. He averaged about 25 a game and made so many last second winning shots. Football he was so tough for a little guy. Went both ways, played QB and cornerback. Chappie was a stud and after all these years I still consider him the best high school athlete I've ever seen. Nathan July 12, 2011 I went to High School with Kelvin and he is by far the greatest basketball player that I have ever seen. Quicker than any human that I've seen also. He absolutely terrorized the offense with steal after steal. I'm sure that he could have played pro basketball if they gave him a try. Most "experts" would say that he was too small but that never stopped him from being a game changer. By the way, at second base he made some unbelievable diving plays that nobody but a few elites could have made. In the "Bigs" they just don't give you much of a chance if you are in a slump. He could have been world famous in my opinion with a little bit of TLC.

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