The Hopkinsville Hoppers were a baseball team based in Hopkinsville, Kentucky between 1903 and 1954. The team initially played as the "Browns" in 1903 and 1904, before adopting the "Hoppers" moniker.
Hopkinsville teams played as exclusively as members of the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League in 1903–1905, 1910–1914, 1916, 1922–1923, 1935–1942, 1946–1954.
Hopkinsville was affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers (AA) from 1937 to 1939; Chicago Cubs 1946; Philadelphia A's 1953–1954.
Today, the "Hoppers" team moniker has been adopted by the summer collegiate baseball wood-bat team that plays as a member of the Ohio Valley League, after the current team was founded in 2012. In 2012, Hopkinsville had the highest attendance in the league.
Notable alumni
Al Demaree (1910) Dave Koslo (1939) 1949 NL ERA Title Dusty Rhodes (1947) Johnny Schmitz (1938) 2 x MLB All-Star Art Wilson (1922)
Year-by-year record Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs190452–685thJohn Ferrell none 1905 31–44 -- Team withdrew July 18 1910 50–68 4th Dave Anderson (minors) / John Ray cancelled 1911 78–46 1st John Nairn Co-Champs 1912 44–54 5th Dudley Lewis / Nig Langdon / Tom Atkins none 1913 73–53 3rd George Kalkhoff none 1914 20–45 -- George Kalkhoff Team disbanded July 10 1916 22–56 6th William Schwartz League disbanded August 4 1922 62–51 2nd Bill Catton / Art Nilson 1923 52–51 5th Ben Smith 1935 46–45 3rd John Suther no champions 1936 46–72 7th Ralph McKnight / Jesse Petty / Budd Adams / Lyle Judy 1937 71–50 2nd Red Smith Lost in 1st round 1938 76–53 1st Red Smith Lost League Finals 1939 57–68 5th Harry Griswold 1940 35–89 8th Dutch Welch 1941 69–57 2nd Chet Wilburn Lost League Finals 1942 23–23 4th Melvin Ivy League disbanded June 19 1946 73–53 2nd Calvin Chapman Lost in 1st round 1947 69–56 3rd Frank Scalzi League Champs 1948 85–41 1st Vito Tamulis Lost in 1st round 1949 68–56 3rd John Mueller Lost in 1st round 1950 60–60 6th Joe DeMasi 1951 41–78 8th Steve Carter (minors) / Vito Tamulis 1952 50–70 6th Larry Brunke 1953 59–60 4th Norman Wilson / Ed Wright Lost in 1st round 1954 58–59 6th Ed Wright / Bearl Brooks / Richards Ramsey
References