Born with spondylitis (inflamation of the vertebrae), Kipper was the Angels’ first choice in the June 1982 draft. The youthful-looking, inconsistent lefthander was California League Pitcher of the Year in 1984 and jumped up to the majors in 1985.
After only just two games with the Angels, Kipper was dealt to Pittsburgh with Pat Clements and Mike Brown in exchange for John Candelaria, Al Holland, and George Hendrick. He moved into the Pirates’ rotation on a full-time basis in 1986, but shoulder trouble limited his effectiveness. By 1988, Kipper had been demoted to the bullpen, where he remained for four years before finishing out his career with a season in Minnesota.
