Paul Hopkins (baseball)

Paul Hopkins
Pitcher
Born: (1904-09-25)September 25, 1904 Chester, Connecticut
Died: Middletown, Connecticut
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 29, 1927, for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
July 12, 1929, for the St. Louis Browns
MLB statistics
Games pitched	11
Win–loss record	1–1
Earned run average	2.96
Strikeouts	11
Teams
Washington Senators (1927, 1929) St. Louis Browns (1929)

Paul Henry Hopkins (September 25, 1904 – January 2, 2004) 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 strikeouts, 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.

Quotation

"Then he (Babe Ruth) strolled out from the Yankee bench and walked up to the plate. I was not excited or awed." – Paul Hopkins in The Hartford Courant (1998).

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference

Records
Preceded by Ray Hayworth	Oldest recognized verified living baseball player September 25, 2002 – January 2, 2004	Succeeded by Ray Cunningham