Paul Hopkins (baseball)

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

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