Position: left field, right field & 3b Bats: right Throws: right

Jim never imagined having a personal baseball career until after he enlisted in the US Navy and served at Pearl Harbor. At third base for the segregated military team, his natural athleticism made him a standout. Zapp later transferred to Staten Island, New York, where he eventually embraced a future in the Negro Leagues.

Jim's friend (fellow NLB Living Legend) Butch McCord, recalled trying times that challenged their progress in baseball. "Jim was known by all to have had quite a temper. One day during spring training in Southern Illinois, he was pushed to his limit. The fans were hootin'and hollerin' obscenities at Jim as he approached the plate. He wanted nothing more than to silence them with a base hit or a maybe even a homerun. As it turned out, Jim popped up and was put out. Insults and jeers got loader as Jim returned to the dugout. In his anger, he lost his composure and headed straight to the bleachers to share a bit of his frustration with the rowdy fans." Butch recalls jumping up, and with several other teammates, redirected Jim's path. A confrontation with the fans would have led to serious consequences and possibly ended his career.

Jim loved baseball but never played in his teen years. It was in the service that he would begin his baseball career. There were two teams (in the Navy) at Pearl Harbor a black team and a white team. Coach Jones was the coach of the white team. He was a football All-American from the University of Pittsburgh. He watched the black team play one day and took an interest in Zapp. He integrated his team adding Zapp to the line-up. Jim played there the rest of the season. At the end of the '43 season his unit deployed to a new location and Jim had to part ways with his team. He did, however, continue his effort with the black team until the end of WWII. The U.S. Navy later sent Zapp to Staten Island, New York to fill an assignment there. He played ball in New York as well; one of two black players on the team. He was sought by the Baltimore Elite Giants to play for them on a part-time basis (weekend games). He agreed and took the field alongside teammates Campanella, Kimbro and Bill Wright.

*Larry Napp was the manager of this team. He had ties with the Brooklyn Dodgers and later the Montreal team, but eventually found a future with the American League.

Upon discharge from the Navy, Zapp returned to his home and was signed by "Fat Puppy" Green to join the Baltimore Elite Giants winter season. Jim again returned to Nashville to complete a season with the Nashville Cubs. The following year, Jim landed on the Atlanta Back Crackers roster, stayed for about half the season. Frustrated by their inability to pay players, Zapp abandoned the team - jumped off the bus in New York and stayed with family there. While in New York, standing in front of a nightclub, Jim was recognized and offered an opportunity to play with the Negro Leagues Birmingham Black Baron's.

Jim left New York for the campus of Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama where "Piper" Davis was a player manager. Zapp took left field, while Willie Mays covered center and Ed Steele right. This team went on to capture their Negro Leagues Baseball Conference Championship by beating K.C. in 7 games and proceeded only to lose the Negro Leagues World Series to the Homestead Greys.

In 1951 Baltimore Elite Giants, under new ownership (Sue Bridgeforth) brought him back to join their roster. As mid-season approached and the East West All Star Game selection list was made public, Jim had been not been chosen. He he had been playing the best ball of his entire career. He immediately became disgruntled and left the team right there on the spot. Butch McCord, Jim's childhood friend called on Jim to consider playing alongside him for Paris, Illinois integrated ball club owner John Gibbons. Mr. Gibbons trusted Butch's recommendation and signed Jim - everyone was soon pleased they did as Jim took the league leadership position in homeruns hit and set a team RBI record that still stands today. Butch was eventually traded to Denver. Jim was released and picked by Danville, another team in the same league.

At 29 years old Jim left Lincoln Nebraska to play with a team in Corpus Christi, Texas. After a short stay there, Jim was being traded to another team in the Texas League located in Odessa. All of the trades, uprooting and traveling had taken its toll. Jim decided it was time to pack it in. He headed home to Tennessee where he found a short period of employment. It turned out that the desire to play baseball was still burning inside of Jim. He made up his mind to chase that Odessa, Texas opportunity. But it was too late; By the time he arrived in Odessa, the roster was full. The best he could do was get a personal referral to Big Springs Team owner Bob "Pepper" Martin. "Pepper" took a chance on Jim and bought his contract outright. Jim hit home-run at his first at bat.

By season's end, Jim had 31 home runs and was tied for the title. Just before the start of the last game of the season, Jim caught a stray ball in the eye and it swelled shut. It didn't look good for Jim's chances of breaking the home-run record now. "Pepper" came to Jim and told him that he was playing whether he liked it or not. As hard as it was to see, Jim stepped up to the plate and blasted his 32nd home-run of the season, breaking the league record. By spring the following season, Coach Martin wanted Jim at first base. He struggled there and couldn't seem to keep it together. He took a self-imposed leave of absence. Mr. Martin informed Jim that he had been traded to Fort Arthur for two players, one being Jim Newberry, one of Jim's former Birmingham Black Barons teammates. By season's end, this team was bought by the Cleveland Indians organization. Jim decided to call it quits and finally left baseball for good. Mr. Zapp began a career of what would end up being 24 years with the civil service.

Note - Jim acknowledged that back in Paris, Illinois (1951), his record of 136 RBI's was greatly attributed to his good friend Butch McCord. Butch had batted 3rd that year and hit close to .390. Zapp batted 4th or 5th throughout the entire season and stepped to the plate with Butch usually in scoring position. (Back in the day, Paris, Illinois was part of the Ohio Valley League - now it is referred to as the Midwest League - )