A chapter in Denver's baseball history has come to a close with the passing of Vern Rapp.
Rapp died on New Year's Eve at age 87, leaving behind a long career in baseball at a time before big paychecks and team payrolls that far exceed $100 million a year.
While Rapp made it to the major leagues twice as a manager — with the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds — he earned his baseball wings with the Denver Bears.
Rapp was a catcher as a player and first came to Denver in 1958 to play for the Bears.