DeWolf Hopper

William DeWolf Hopper was an American stage, film, and radio actor. He is best known for his theatrical performances, particularly his recitation of the poem "Casey at the Bat".

"Casey at the Bat" is a famous baseball poem written by Ernest Thayer. It tells the story of the last half-inning of a baseball game, where the "Mudville Nine" is down by two runs with two outs. Casey, the team's star player, comes to bat and fails to deliver a hit, leading to Mudville's defeat.

DeWolf Hopper first performed "Casey at the Bat" on August 14, 1888, during a baseball game between the New York Giants and the Chicago White Stockings. He went on to recite the poem more than 10,000 times throughout his career.

Aside from his famous recitation of "Casey at the Bat," DeWolf Hopper had a successful career as a comic and character actor in both theater and film. He appeared in numerous plays and musicals, and also had a number of film roles, including in the early silent film "Don Quixote."

Yes, DeWolf Hopper was also a songwriter and composer. He wrote and performed in several comedic songs and contributed to the music and lyrics of various musicals. Some of his notable compositions include "Abie, My Boy" and "Marching Through Georgia."