Hopkinsville Hoppers

The Hopkinsville Hoppers were a baseball team based in Hopkinsville, Kentucky between 1904 and 1954. The team initially played as the "Browns" in 1904, before adopting the "Hoppers" moniker.[1]

Hopkinsville teams played as exclusively as members of the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League in 1904–1905, 1910–1914, 1916, 1922–1923, 1935–1942, 1946–1954.[2]

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.[3]

Notable alumni

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Year-by-year record

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Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1904 52–68 5th John 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

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  1. ^ "1904 Hopkinsville Browns Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "Hopkinsville, Kentucky Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ "About Hoptown Hoppers – Hoptown Hoppers".