Clay Hopper
Clay Hopper | |
---|---|
Born: Porterville, Mississippi | October 3, 1902|
Died: April 17, 1976 Greenwood, Mississippi | (aged 73)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
Member of the International League | |
Baseball Hall of Fame | |
Induction | 2009 |
Robert Clay Hopper (October 3, 1902 – April 17, 1976)
Managing the Montreal Royals of the International League in 1946, Hopper served as Jackie Robinson's first manager in integrated baseball. Hopper was named manager of the year with the Royals in 1946 and with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League in 1953. He was inducted into the International League Hall of Fame in 2009.
Career
College
Hopper played collegiately at Mississippi State University, known as Mississippi A&M College at the time, and was a three-year letterman. A search of MSU athletic records from the period shows that Hopper's first collegiate year was as a member of legendary MSU head coach C.R. "Dudy" Noble's 1924 team that won the last of A&M's six baseball championships in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association.[2]
Minor leagues
Hopper played in
Manager
Hopper became a
Hopper joined the
Hopper remained Montreal's manager through the 1949 season.
From 1952 through 1955, Hopper managed the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), which at the time was unaffiliated with an MLB franchise.[15][16] He was named the PCL manager of the year in 1953.[17] Hopper managed the Hollywood Stars of the PCL, a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate, in 1956.[18] He retired from baseball following the season.[19]
He ranks #15 of all time in minor league wins by a manager. Hopper was posthumously inducted into the International League Hall of Fame in 2009.[20]
Personal
Hopper lived in Greenwood, Mississippi. He worked as a cotton broker during the baseball offseason.[9]
Hopper is portrayed by Brett Cullen in 42, the 2013 biopic about Robinson.[9]
References
- ^ "Clay Hopper" (PDF). MiLB.com. January 23, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- ^ Before Jackie Robinson went pro, he trained under MSU alum
- ^ "Four or more home runs in a single game". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
- ^ Remington, Cray L. (December 26, 1928). "Says Cray L. Remington: Varsity Court Team All It Can Do Is Win How Pennant Was Won". Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express.
- ^ "Cards Name Hopper To Handle Redwings". The Pittsburgh Press. May 5, 1936.
- ^ "Columbus Picks Clay Hopper to Boss Red Birds". Herald-Journal. January 5, 1939.
- ^ "Clay Hopper Is Promoted". Greensburg Daily Tribune. January 12, 1942.
- ^ "Clay Hopper to Lead Royals Baseball Club". The Montreal Gazette. December 6, 1945.
- ^ a b c d e Lamb, Chris (April 7, 2013). "Opinion: The redemption of Clay Hopper". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
- ^ "Second Black Player Signed After Jackie Robinson Never Made His Mark". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
- ^ "Sporting News Honors Yawkey". Meriden Record. December 30, 1946.
- ^ "Clay Hopper Retained As Montreal Manager". The Hartford Courant. October 14, 1948. Retrieved April 13, 2013. (subscription required)
- ^ "International League Announces 2009 Hall of Fame Class". Independent and Minor League Sports News. OurSports Central. 27 January 2009.
- ^ "Orders Come From Rickley". The Milwaukee Journal. March 7, 1950.
- ^ "Hopper to Portland". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 4, 1951. p. 22.
- ^ "Clay Hopper Resigns from Coast Berth". The Montreal Gazette. November 10, 1955.
- ^ "Hopper Is Named Manager of Year". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 8, 1953.
- ^ "Hollywood Counting on Pirate Help". The Pittsburgh Press. March 27, 1956.
- ^ "Clay Hopper Quits As Stars' Manager". Oxnard Press-Courier. November 19, 1956.
- ^ "Familiar faces heading to IL Hall of Fame". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 2009-01-28. Retrieved April 13, 2013.[permanent dead link](subscription required)
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)