Born in
Weldon Spring, Missouri, as
Heinrich Nicholas Kolop, Cullop batted and threw right-handed, stood tall and weighed . He began his professional career as a
pitcher,
second baseman and
outfielder for the
Madison Greys of the Class D
South Dakota League in 1920,
hitting .341 in 66 games. Although he was primarily an outfielder, Cullop continued to pitch sporadically through 1927, compiling a 49–50
record in 140 minor league games. However, Cullop made his name as a batter. In 1924, he swatted 40
home runs and compiled 155
runs batted in with the
Omaha Buffaloes of the Class A
Western League; the following season, 1925, he led the
Southern Association with 30 home runs as a member of the
Atlanta Crackers. His prodigious hitting led to major league trials with the
New York Yankees,
Washington Senators,
Cleveland Indians,
Brooklyn Robins and
Cincinnati Reds (1926–1927; 1929–1931). In 173 games over all or parts of those seasons, Cullop batted only .249 with 122
hits, 29
doubles, 12
triples, 11 home runs and 67 RBI. But at the minor league level, he was a terror. Cullop's best season was in 1930 with the
Minneapolis Millers of the
American Association. He batted .359 and led the Association in
runs scored (150), homers (54) and RBI (152). He played through 1944, and overall he batted .312, made 2,670 hits, slugged 420 homers and drove in 1,857 RBI in 2,484 minor league games. He began a 17-year minor league managing career with the
Asheville Tourists of the Class B
Piedmont League in 1941. He won two regular-season pennants and three playoff championships in leagues ranging from Class C to
Triple-A before he retired from managing in 1959. Cullop died at age 78 in
Westerville, Ohio. ==References==