Clay Hopper

Clay Hopper
Hopper, circa 1951
Born: (1902-10-03)October 3, 1902 Porterville, Mississippi
Died: April 17, 1976(1976-04-17) (aged 73) Greenwood, Mississippi
Batted: Right Threw: Right
Member of the International League
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2009

Robert Clay Hopper (October 3, 1902 – April 17, 1976)^[1] was an American professional baseball player and manager in minor league baseball. Hopper played from 1926 through 1941 and continued managing through 1956.

Managing the Montreal Royals of the International League in 1946, Hopper served as Jackie Robinson's first manager in integrated baseball. Hopper was named manager of the year with the Royals in 1946 and with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League in 1953. He was inducted into the International League Hall of Fame in 2009.