University Southern California Trojans
Vic Lapiner, USC All-American Pitcher Who Led Trojans to the 1955 College World Series, Dies
November 21, 2019 | Baseball, Features
LOS ANGELES—Vic Lapiner, an All-American pitcher at USC who led the Trojans to their fourth College World Series appearance in 1955, passed away on Saturday (Nov. 16) in Tarzana after a brief illness. He was 85.
Lapiner came to USC in 1952 after starring in both baseball and basketball at Wilson High School. He helped the Trojans to conference championships each season he was there and was named a first-team All-American after propelling the Trojans to the 1955 College World Series. His official record in 1955 was 7-0 with a 2.99 ERA, but, including unofficial games, Lapiner is said to have won 27 games that season.
Lapiner not only led the Trojans to a CWS appearance in 1955, but delayed his professional career so he could join coach Rod Dedeaux and the team on a foreign tour through Japan and South Korea in August of that year.
After returning, Lapiner signed with the Cleveland Indians and spent two seasons in the team's minor league system. He went 17-5 with a 1.96 ERA in 1956 for the Indians' Class-A affiliate, before again putting his career on hold to spend two years in military service. Lapiner was All-Navy in both baseball and basketball, before returning for one final professional baseball season in 1959.
Lapiner retired following the 1959 season to get married and start a family, but never got too far from the game, serving as a part-time coach and BP pitcher for several professional organizations over the years, including the Indians, Dodgers and Reds. Lapiner also started the Reseda American Legion program in 1978 and coached the team through 1986.
He was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
Lapiner went into sales in the promotional products business after leaving baseball.
He is survived by his wife Renee, his children, Jeff (Gina), Traci (Ross) Blumenthal, and Craig (Kristen), and his brother Robert (Giselle). He is also survived by his nine grandchildren.
Lapiner came to USC in 1952 after starring in both baseball and basketball at Wilson High School. He helped the Trojans to conference championships each season he was there and was named a first-team All-American after propelling the Trojans to the 1955 College World Series. His official record in 1955 was 7-0 with a 2.99 ERA, but, including unofficial games, Lapiner is said to have won 27 games that season.
Lapiner not only led the Trojans to a CWS appearance in 1955, but delayed his professional career so he could join coach Rod Dedeaux and the team on a foreign tour through Japan and South Korea in August of that year.
After returning, Lapiner signed with the Cleveland Indians and spent two seasons in the team's minor league system. He went 17-5 with a 1.96 ERA in 1956 for the Indians' Class-A affiliate, before again putting his career on hold to spend two years in military service. Lapiner was All-Navy in both baseball and basketball, before returning for one final professional baseball season in 1959.
Lapiner retired following the 1959 season to get married and start a family, but never got too far from the game, serving as a part-time coach and BP pitcher for several professional organizations over the years, including the Indians, Dodgers and Reds. Lapiner also started the Reseda American Legion program in 1978 and coached the team through 1986.
He was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
Lapiner went into sales in the promotional products business after leaving baseball.
He is survived by his wife Renee, his children, Jeff (Gina), Traci (Ross) Blumenthal, and Craig (Kristen), and his brother Robert (Giselle). He is also survived by his nine grandchildren.
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