Harry Hooper: An American Baseball Life

In this biography of Hooper (1887-1974), Zingg focuses on his major league career with the Boston Red Sox between 1909 and 1920, then with the Chicago White Sox, for whom he played until 1925. Esteemed by his fellow athletes, Hall-of-Famer Hooper belonged to the outfield trio that included Tris Speaker and Duffy Lewis which is considered the best ever in fielding skill. And although his lifetime batting average was under .300, Hooper was judged the top leadoff batter of his time, with a remarkable on-base percentage and great prowess as a base stealer. As one of the few college graduates on the diamond--he attended St. Mary's on the San Francisco peninsula, where the author teaches history--Hooper was so respected for his knowledge that he was even able to convince Red Sox manager Ed Barrow to convert Babe Ruth from a pitcher into an outfielder. Zingg's well-crafted biography captures the low-key personality of his subject, a player fans will enjoy becoming reacquainted with. Photos not seen by PW . (Sept.)