Jim Hopper
From BR Bullpen
James McDaniel Hopper
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 175 lb.
- Debut April 21, 1946
- Final Game May 17, 1946
- Born September 1, 1919 in Charlotte, NC USA
- Died January 23, 1982 in Charlotte, NC USA
[edit] Biographical Information
North Carolina native Jim Hopper spent six seasons in professional baseball from 1942 to 1949. The right-hander spent part of one season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, 1946. Hopper appeared in two games (April 21 and May 17), had an 0-1 record with a 10.38 ERA and spent the rest of his career in the minor leagues.
Hopper spent six seasons in the minor leagues, having four double-digit win seasons to his credit. In his opening season Jim went 15-9 with the Landis Senators of the class D North Carolina State League, with a 3.49 ERA in 32 games. Hopper lit the AA International League up with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1943, going 15-9 again with a 2.63 ERA in 36 games.
Jim missed the next two seasons (1944-1945) serving with the United States Army during World War II. He did not pitch well on his return from the service, going 1-5 with two teams in 1946 and was almost as bad off when he went 6-7 with three clubs in 1947.
1948 found Jim back in the low minors with the Mooresville Moors of the class D North Carolina State League with a 12-15 record and a 4.52 ERA. Hopper finished out his minor league career in 1949, posting a 17-8 record and a 3.44 ERA in 28 games for the class D Landis Spinners, also of the North Carolina State League.
Hopper hung up his spikes after the 1949 season and six years in the minors with a 66-53 record, pitching 966 innings in 159 games.
As noted above Hopper served in the United States Army during World War II. After baseball, he worked as a self-service station operator, retiring from that job. He died from lung cancer on January 23, 1982 in Charlotte, NC. James McDaniel Hopper was 62 years of age.
