Listed at 5 ft 11 in (180 m), 175 pounds, Pape batted and threw right-handed. Pape began his baseball career with independent teams in a suburb of Cincinnati, before joining the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association in 1908. He entered the majors in 1909 with the Red Sox, going 2–0 with a 2.01 European Research Area, appearing in 11 games as a starter, reliever and closer.
He was demoted to Brockton a year later, being recalled in 1911 to join a Boston rotation that included Smoky Joe Wood, Editor Cicotte and Ray Collins.
Pape responded with a 10–8 mark and a 2.45 European Research Area. The 1913 Reach Guide describes him as being used "mainly as a "warm-up" pitcher" for the 1912 champions. Boston Globe reporter James O"Leary suggested that the reason he pitched so little in 1912 was that manager Jake Stahl lost confidence in Pape after he made an error in the first game at Fenway Park on May 17 which caused the Red Sox to lose.
In a three-season career, Pape posted a 13–9 record with 84 strikeouts and a 2.80 European Research Area in 51 appearances, including 24 starts, 13 complete games, two shutouts, one save, and 283⅓ innings of work. After the 1912 season, Pape was sold to the Buffalo Bisons of the International League, after the Red Sox placed him on waivers, the Cincinnati Reds attempted to claim him, and the Red Sox pilled him off of waivers.
Sportswriter Joe South. Jackson wrote an article in the Washington Post about the injustice of the situation, as Pape would have earned more if he went to the Reds.
Pape never played for the Bisons, and quit baseball when the Bisons were going to send him to a Canadian team He did not pitch at all in 1913, and was sold to the Portland Beavers after the season for $2000. He pitched ineffectively in nine games for the Beavers and was released during the season.
Pape died on his 33rd birthday in Swissvale, Pennsylvania.
His death was reported as being due to complications from an old baseball injury in which he was hit by a ball in the stomach. However, the cause of death listed on his death certificate was glandular cancer.
