Harry Hooper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harry Hooper |
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Hooper in 1915
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| Right fielder | |||
| Born: August 24, 1887 Bell Station, California, U.S. |
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| Died: December 18, 1974 (aged 87) Santa Cruz, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 16, 1909, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 4, 1925, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .281 | ||
| Hits | 2,466 | ||
| Home runs | 75 | ||
| Runs batted in | 816 | ||
| Stolen bases | 375 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1971 | ||
| Election Method | Veterans Committee | ||
Harry Bartholomew Hooper (born August 24, 1887 – died December 18, 1974) was an American professional baseball player. He was a right fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Hooper batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Bell Station, California, and went to Saint Mary's College of California. He played for major league teams from 1909 to 1925. He spent most of his career with the Boston Red Sox and finished with the Chicago White Sox.
Hooper was famous for his amazing defensive skills. He was often a top player in categories like putouts and assists for a right fielder. He holds the record for the most career assists by a right fielder. With the Red Sox, he was part of the "Golden Outfield" with Duffy Lewis and Tris Speaker. This group was one of the best outfield trios in baseball history. Hooper is also one of only two players to be on four different Red Sox World Series championship teams (in 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918). He was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.
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Harry Hooper's Early Life
Harry Hooper was born on August 24, 1887, in Bell Station, California. His family moved to California like many others during the California Gold Rush. His father, Joseph "Joe" Hooper, was from Canada. Harry was the youngest of four children. His mother, Mary Katherine (Keller), was from Germany.
Harry's older brothers had to leave school early to work on the family farm. But Harry loved school, especially math. One of his teachers helped convince his parents to let him go to high school in Oakland. After high school, he graduated from Saint Mary's College of California with an engineering degree. At St. Mary's, Harry showed he was good at both school and baseball.
Harry Hooper's Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Hooper began his minor league career in 1907 with the Oakland Commuters. He started as a pitcher but soon became a position player. In 41 games with Oakland, he had a .301 batting average. The next year, he played for the Sacramento Senators, hitting .344 in 77 games. His contract also gave him work as a railroad surveyor when he wasn't playing baseball.
Hooper didn't know it at first, but his manager in Sacramento, Charles Graham, was a scout for the Boston Red Sox. Graham helped Hooper meet Red Sox owner John I. Taylor. Hooper then signed a $2,800 contract with Boston.
Playing for the Boston Red Sox
Hooper joined the Red Sox in 1909. He played 81 games and hit .282. From 1910 to 1915, he played with center fielder Tris Speaker and left fielder Duffy Lewis. They formed the "Golden Outfield", one of the best outfield groups ever. They faced some challenges, but they were a strong team.
Even though Hooper was a tough player on the field, he was known for being friendly and funny. This was different from Speaker, who was very serious. Fans loved Hooper, and he became known as a player who performed well in important moments. He was a top defensive right fielder and a great leadoff hitter. He even invented a move called the "rump-slide" to catch short fly balls.
In 1910, Hooper played 155 games and hit .267. He led all American League outfielders with 30 assists that season. In 1911, Hooper hit .311. The outfield trio of Hooper, Lewis, and Speaker hit .315 together.
Hooper's batting average was .242 in 1912. But Boston won the 1912 World Series that year. During the World Series, Hooper made a catch that was called one of the best plays in baseball history. On May 30, 1913, Hooper made history. He was the first player to hit a home run to start both games of a doubleheader. Only a few other players have done this since. In 1914, he was one of the top three right fielders in putouts.
On October 13, 1915, in Game 5 of the 1915 World Series, Hooper hit two home runs. This made him only the second player to do so in a single World Series game. The Red Sox won another world championship. Hooper was also the captain of the Red Sox in 1919. He convinced Boston manager Ed Barrow to change Babe Ruth from a pitcher to an outfielder. This was a very important decision for baseball history!
Moving to the Chicago White Sox
Before the 1921 season, there were questions about whether Hooper would stay with the Red Sox. The Red Sox owner, Harry Frazee, had been trading away expensive veteran players. In March 1921, the Red Sox traded Hooper to the Chicago White Sox. Hooper was reportedly surprised by the trade.
Hooper had some of his best hitting years with the White Sox. He hit over .300 in three of his five seasons with the team. In 1922, he hit a career-high 11 home runs and had 80 runs batted in (RBIs). In 1922 and 1924, Hooper was involved in eight double plays, leading the league for outfielders. In 1925, Hooper asked to leave Chicago because he wanted to become a manager.
Hooper finished his career with a .281 batting average. He had 75 home runs, 817 RBIs, 1429 runs, 2466 hits, 389 doubles, 160 triples, and 375 stolen bases. He was a great defensive player, with a .966 fielding percentage. He holds Red Sox records for most triples (130) and stolen bases (300). Hooper is one of only two players to be part of four Red Sox World Series championships.
Harry Hooper's Life Outside Baseball
Early in his baseball career, Hooper also got involved in business. He bought peach orchards in Capitola, California, and later in Yuba City. He also grew artichokes and pomegranates. He was given a military draft exemption in 1917 because he was a farmer. Hooper also invested in other businesses, like an insurance agency and oil drilling. He was successful with local property investments, which helped him financially.
Hooper married Esther Henchy in 1912. They had three children: John, Harry Jr., and Marie. His son John played minor league baseball.
Harry Hooper's Later Life
After he stopped playing baseball, Hooper lived in Capitola and opened a real estate business. In 1927, he became a player-manager for a minor league team in San Francisco. Hooper also coached the baseball team at Princeton University for two seasons in the 1930s. He left Princeton when his salary was cut due to the Great Depression.
In 1933, Hooper became the postmaster in Capitola. He held this job for 24 years. He was very active in his community, helping with the chamber of commerce and other local groups. People in Capitola said he was one of their most important citizens.
In 1939, Hooper agreed to coach Boston's professional indoor baseball league team. In his later life, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and watching the San Francisco Giants and the Red Sox.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Harry's son, John Hooper, worked hard to get his father into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Harry Hooper was finally chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.
Harry Hooper passed away at the age of 87 in Santa Cruz, California. He had been healthy enough to attend the Hall of Fame ceremonies that summer. His son, Harry Hooper Jr., said he died of old age. At the time of his death, Hooper was the oldest living member of the Hall of Fame.
See also
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
- The Glory of Their Times
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
