Harry Hooper (August 24, 1887 - December 18, 1974) was a Major League Baseball player in the early 20th century. Hooper batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He still holds many team records with the Boston Red Sox. Hooper was born in Bell Station, California. A graduate in engineering at Saint Mary's College of California, he broke into the majors with the Red Sox in 1909. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox in the 1921 season and finished his career in 1925.
Hooper was known as a top-calibre defensive right fielder and a solid leadoff hitter. Between 1910 and 1915, he teamed with Tris Speaker (CF) and Duffy Lewis (LF) to form one of the finest outfield trios in baseball history.
Over his career, Hooper scored 100 runs or higher three times; batted .300 or higher five times, and stole 20 or more bases nine times. He also finished in the top ten list in triples seven times and in home runs three times.
On May 30, 1913 Hooper became the first player to hit a home run to leadoff both games of a doubleheader, a mark only matched by Rickey Henderson 80 years later. Beside this, Hooper is the only person to be a part of four Red Sox World Series championships: in 1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918. On October 13, 1915, he became the first player to hit two home runs in a single World Series game (*). Hooper was also the captain of the Red Sox in 1919.
Hooper was a career .281 hitter with 75 home runs, 817 RBI, 1429 runs, 2466 hits, 389 doubles, 160 triples, and 375 stolen bases in 2309 games. He holds the Red Sox franchise records for most triples (130) and stolen bases (300).
Harry Hooper was selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. He died in Santa Cruz, California, at age of 87.
(*) Photo from his 1915 record making World Series season
See also
Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame Glory of Their Times List of major league players with 2,000 hits
