Joe Hoover

Who was Joe Hoover?

Robert Joseph Hoover, was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1941–1945. Born in Brawley, California, played for the Hollywood Stars in the Pacific Coast League. On October 1, 1942, the Detroit Tigers purhcased Hoover from the Stars after all three Detroit shortstops—Billy Hitchcock, Johnny Lipon, and Murray Franklin—were inuducted in the military during World War II. Hoover hit .243 with a .300 on base percentage in his three seasons with the Tigers. In 1943, he led the American League in outs with 478 and in sacrifice hits with 28. He was also second in the league with 101 strikeouts in 1943. Hoover's last Major League appearance came in Game 6 of the 1945 World Series. Hoover had a single in three World Series at bats. He also had an RBI and scored a run in an 8–7 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Hoover died in Los Angeles, California in 1965 at age 50.

His World Series ring was stolen from his daughter's home in the late 1970s. It has not yet been returned to the family.