Bud Zipfel: key obituary facts
Is Bud Zipfel dead? Yes. Bud Zipfel died on October 10, 2026, at age 87.
Cause of death: Bud Zipfel's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Bud Zipfel known for?
He was an American baseball player.
More about Bud Zipfel
Born: 18 November 1938.
Place of birth: Belleville.
Gender: male.
Nationality: United States.
Education: Belleville High School-West.
Marion Sylvester “Bud” Zipfel, an American baseball player who appeared with the Washington Senators, died October 10, 2026, aged 87.
Born in Belleville, Illinois, on November 18, 1938, he graduated from Belleville High School in 1956 and signed with the New York Yankees. Over the next five years, Zipfel advanced through the Yankees’ minor-league system as a power-hitting first baseman.
He exceeded 20 home runs twice, hitting 21 in the Class D New York–Penn League in 1958 and 28 in the Class A Eastern League in 1960. The Los Angeles Angels selected him in the 29th round of the 1960 expansion draft, then immediately traded him to the expansion Washington Senators for infielder Ken Hamlin. Zipfel had an impressive spring training with Washington in 1961, and continued his powerful hitting in the minors that season. He went on to appear in 118 major-league games over two seasons, 1961 and 1962, all with the Senators. A first baseman and left fielder, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was listed at 6 feet 3 inches tall and 200 pounds. His professional route from the Yankees’ farm system to Washington thus included two minor-league home-run seasons, a selection by an expansion club and an immediate trade before his major-league appearances.