On July 26, 2009 The National Baseball Hall of Fame opened its doors to the legendary Rickey Henderson, the premier leadoff hitter of his time. One hundred years earlier, when the ball was still dead, another premier leadoff specialist took the field for the Boston Red Sox. The left handed swinging Harry Hooper began his career on April 16, 1909. He was stationed in the right field position, helping solidify one of the top outfield tandems in the history of baseball. In 1912, when the Red Sox opened Fenway Park, Hooper helped lead them to a World Series title. The Red Sox would win three additional titles while Hooper served as their leadoff man. In 1921, Mr. Frazee sent Hooper to the post scandal ridden White Sox. Hooper would finish his career on the south side of Chicago.
This six panel cap was worn by Hooper during his time with the Red Sox. The hat is wrapped in cream coated wool with navy pinstripes dyed into the fabric. The inside band is constructed of leather and the brim is of a thick based cardboard. A larger style button in placed at the top of the cap, while the eyelets are stitched to match the hat. This cap was more then likely assembled by the Massachusetts based Horace Partridge Sporting Goods Company. The cap remains on display in Cooperstown. In 1971, Hooper was inducted in to the hallowed halls of Cooperstown, receiving the maximum amount of votes from his peers on the Veterans Committee.

Text: Jared E. Wheeler