Paul Hopkins
Encyclopedia
Paul Henry Hopkins was a right-handed relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Washington Senators
(1927, 1929) and St. Louis Browns (1929).
Hopkins was born in Chester, Connecticut
. His major league debut came on the same day that Babe Ruth
hit his record-tying 59th home run
on September 29, 1927. Hopkins said he did not know that he would be facing Ruth when he entered the game in the fifth inning with the bases loaded. He finished his career with a record of 1-1, 11 strikeout
s, and a 2.96 earned run average
in 11 games; he left St. Louis following the 1929 season after injuring a tendon.
Hopkins died in Deep River, Connecticut
at 99 years of age, having worked for the University of Illinois' RSC division for years. At the time of his death, he was reported to be the oldest living former major-league player.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1927, 1929) and St. Louis Browns (1929).
Hopkins was born in Chester, Connecticut
Chester, Connecticut
Chester is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,743 at the 2000 census. The town center is also defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place .-Geography:...
. His major league debut came on the same day that Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
hit his record-tying 59th home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
on September 29, 1927. Hopkins said he did not know that he would be facing Ruth when he entered the game in the fifth inning with the bases loaded. He finished his career with a record of 1-1, 11 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, and a 2.96 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 11 games; he left St. Louis following the 1929 season after injuring a tendon.
Hopkins died in Deep River, Connecticut
Deep River, Connecticut
Deep River is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,629 at the 2010 census. The town center is also designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...
at 99 years of age, having worked for the University of Illinois' RSC division for years. At the time of his death, he was reported to be the oldest living former major-league player.