Former Major Leaguer Johnny Hopp Dies

.c The Associated Press

06/04/03 20:41 EDT

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) - Johnny Hopp, an outfielder who played in five World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees, is dead at 86.

Hopp died Sunday at the Residency, a retirement community in Scottsbluff, where he lived with his wife Sarah, said Dennis Kramer, funeral director at the Dugan-Kramer Funeral Home.

Hopp began his major league career with the Cardinals in 1939. He played in three World Series with the team, and was voted its most popular player in 1941.

In 1946, he was traded to the Boston Braves. He also played with Pittsburgh and Detroit and played with the Yankees in 1950 and '51, when they won the second and third of four straight World Series titles.

He finished with a .296 career batting average., hitting .336 with 11 home runs and 72 RBIs for the Cardinals in 1944, his best season.

He was a coach with the Cardinals and Tigers from 1952-57.

Following his baseball career, Hopp worked as an administrative assistant for Kansas-Nebraska Energy, and was editor of the employee newsletter. He retired in 1970.

A memorial service was scheduled for Thursday in Scottsbluff. Burial will be in the Parkview Cemetery in Hastings.