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Hop Riopel

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Hop Riopel
Biographical details
Born(1900-10-11)October 11, 1900
Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedSeptember 4, 1966(1966-09-04) (aged 65)
Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Playing career
Baseball
1921–1924Holy Cross
1923–1924Fitchburg
1928–1929Lewiston Twins
Football
1920–1923Holy Cross
1924–1925Providence Steamrollers
Basketball
1921–1924Holy Cross
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1924–1932Milford HS (MA)
1933–1942Holy Cross (freshmen)
1943–1947Holy Cross (varsity assistant)
1948–1959Holy Cross (freshmen)
Basketball
1928–1933Assumption
1933–1934Holy Cross (freshmen)
1934–1935Holy Cross
1942–1945Holy Cross
Baseball
1930–1932Milford HS (MA)
1933–1960Holy Cross (freshmen)
1961–1966Holy Cross
Head coaching record
Overall14–34 (basketball)
82–43 (baseball)

Albert Didace "Hop" Riopel (October 11, 1900 – September 4, 1966) was an American athlete and coach who played for the Providence Steamrollers of the National Football League. After starring at three sports at the College of the Holy Cross, Riopel played both professional football and baseball. He returned to Holy Cross as a coach in 1933 and remained there until his death in 1966.

Playing

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Riopel was born on October 11, 1900 in Worcester, Massachusetts.[1] His mother died when he was one and his father died four years later, so his sister raised Riopel and his nine siblings.[2] He was a member of the baseball, basketball, football, and indoor and outdoor track teams at Worcester Commerce High School. He was offered a tryout with the New York Yankees after graduating, but chose to pursue a college education.[3] He entered the College of the Holy Cross in the fall of 1920 and made the varsity football team as a freshman. He played fullback and was elected captain of the 1923 Holy Cross football team. He also spent three seasons as a starting guard for the Holy Cross basketball team and played first base, third base, and outfield for the Holy Cross baseball team. In 1923 and 1924, he played summer baseball for the Fitchburg team in the Central Massachusetts League. During the 1923 season, he had a 34 game hitting streak.[3] After graduating, Riopel went to New York City to meet with John McGraw of the New York Giants and Clark Griffith of the Washington Senators.[4] However, Riopel chose to remain in Worcester with his family rather than pursue a major league career.[2]

In 1924, Riopel signed with the Providence Steamrollers.[5] The team joined the National Football League for the 1925 season and Riopel appeared in four games that year.[1]

In 1928 and 1929, Riopel played for the Lewiston Twins of the New England League. He appeared in 141 games, batting .277 with 4 homes runs over those two seasons.[6]

Coaching

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Riopel began his coaching career in 1924 at Milford High School in Milford, Massachusetts.[7] In 1928, he became the head basketball coach at Assumption College.[8]

In 1933, Riopel returned to Holy Cross as freshman football, baseball, and basketball coach.[9] When basketball returned as a varsity sport in 1934, Riopel served as the head coach.[10] He served as second stint as varsity basketball coach during World War II.[11]

In addition to serving as freshman coach, Riopel was the chief scout for the Crusaders football team and head coach Ank Scanlan credited his scouting report for helping Holy Cross beat top ranked rival Boston College in 1942 season finale.[12] Riopel served as a varsity assistant during World War II because freshmen were allowed to play for varsity teams. When Ox DaGrosa resigned in 1947, he publicly recommended Riopel as his successor.[13] However, Riopel chose to remain as freshman coach because it had more job security.[14]

From 1947 to 1950, Riopel was a member of the Massachusetts Boxing Commission.[15] In 1956, he was a Republican candidate for the Worcester County commission.[16]

In 1961, longtime Holy Cross baseball coach Jack Barry died and Riopel was chosen to succeed him.[17] His 1962 and 1963 Crusaders baseball teams played in the College World Series. He retired from his fulltime position in the Holy Cross athletic department in June 1966, but was retained as baseball coach.[18] However, that August, he suffered a heart attack and died a week later at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Hop Riopel". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b Birtwell, Roger (January 19, 1962). "Kin's Tears Kept Riopel From Major League Bid". The Boston Globe.
  3. ^ a b "All-Around Stars of College Sport Teams: I – Riopel, the Purple Flash". The Boston Globe. February 9, 1924.
  4. ^ "Riopel Will Quit Fitchburg". The Telegraph. June 23, 1924. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  5. ^ ""Hop" Riopel For Roller Backfield". Providence News. September 19, 1924. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Riopel". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  7. ^ "On School and College Gridirons". The Lewiston Daily Sun. September 22, 1924. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  8. ^ "Hop Lands Berth". The Lewiston Daily Sun. November 16, 1928. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  9. ^ "Holy cross Boosts Reed, Riopel To Coach Freshmen". The Boston Globe. July 14, 1933.
  10. ^ Nason, Jerry (December 25, 1934). "Crusader Quintet To Play Notre Dame Team At Arena". The Boston Globe.
  11. ^ "Holy Cross Picks Julian". The New York Times. March 18, 1945.
  12. ^ "Sport Survey". The Lewiston Daily Sun. February 10, 1947. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  13. ^ Keane, Cliff (November 30, 1947). "Ox Declares B. C. Defense 'as Expected'". The Boston Globe.
  14. ^ Birtwell, Roger (December 2, 1947). "Riopel Likes Security of Frosh Post, Shuns H. C. Varsity Berth". The Boston Globe.
  15. ^ "In the New Eng. Sports World". Lewiston Evening Journal. September 2, 1966. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  16. ^ Election Statistics. 1956.
  17. ^ "Hop Riopel Named Holy Cross Coach". Meriden Record. April 26, 1961. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Riopel Curtails 'Cross Activities". The Telegraph. May 18, 1966. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  19. ^ Monahan, Bob (September 5, 1966). "Holy Cross' Hop Riopel Dies". The Boston Globe.
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