Kappel was born in Philadelphia in 1863. He began playing professional baseball in 1884 for the New Castle Neshannocks. He continued in the minor leagues for the Augusta Browns and Wilmington Blue Hens in 1885 and the Augusta Browns, Chattanooga Lookouts, and Syracuse Stars in 1886.
Kappel made his major-league debut in 1887 with the Cincinnati Red Stockings. He played for Cincinnati in 1887 and 1888, appearing in 59 games and compiling a .267 batting average. In 1889, he played for the Columbus Solons, appearing in 46 games and compiling a .272 batting average. In three major-league season, Kappel played in 105 games: 49 games at shortstop, 33 at third base, and 16 at second base. As a batter, he had 54 hits, 51 runs batted in, and a .269 career batting average.
Kappel continued playing in the minor leagues through the 1895 season, including stints with teams in Sioux City, Albany, Allentown, Buffalo, Albany, Harrisburg, and Bridgetown.

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