Mickey Cochrane
Mickey Cochrane was a prominent figure in American baseball, known for his exceptional skills as a catcher and manager. Born on April 6, 1903, in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, he displayed athletic prowess from a young age, excelling in multiple sports during his time at Boston University. Cochrane began his professional baseball career while still in college, initially playing under a pseudonym to maintain his amateur status. His talent caught the attention of major league teams, leading to a successful stint with the Philadelphia Athletics where he became a key player and leader, contributing to the team's multiple pennants and World Series victories in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Transitioning to the Detroit Tigers in 1934, Cochrane achieved his childhood dream of becoming a player-manager and led the team to the American League pennant in his first year. Unfortunately, his career was cut short in 1937 due to a severe head injury, after which he continued to contribute to baseball in various roles, including general manager and vice president. Cochrane was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947, recognizing his significant impact on the sport. He passed away on June 28, 1962, leaving behind a legacy as a talented athlete and a respected leader in baseball history.
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Subject Terms
Mickey Cochrane
Baseball Player
- Born: April 6, 1903
- Birthplace: Bridgewater, Massachusetts
- Died: June 28, 1962
- Place of death: Lake Forest, Illinois
Sport: Baseball
Early Life
Mickey Cochrane was born on April 6, 1903, in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The son of a proud Boston Irish father, he was called “Mickey” even as a young boy by everyone except his mother, Sarah. Mickey’s father, John, worked as a coachman and caretaker for a wealthy family.
As a child, Mickey had an unusual dream—he wanted to be the manager of a baseball team. He was a good athlete and played several sports at Bridgewater High School. After graduation, he attended Boston University and was one of the finest all-around athletes the university had ever had.
In college, Mickey participated in basketball, boxing, track, football, and baseball. He excelled in football. He played halfback and placekicker and was the captain of the 1923 team. His 53-yard field goal in 1921 was a school record for more than sixty years.
The Road to Excellence
In 1923, while he was still in college, Mickey started playing professional baseball to help pay his tuition. He played for the Dover team of the Eastern Shore League, using the name “Frank King” to protect his amateur status. Mickey preferred playing the outfield, but the only opening on the team was for a catcher, so he played that position. He remained a catcher for the rest of his career.
Mickey did not earn enough money to stay in school playing professional ball, so, because his education was important to him, he took on other jobs too, playing saxophone in a jazz band and washing dishes. As a result, he was able to finish his degree.
After college, Mickey pursued his baseball career full time. He played well on the Dover team, batting more than .300 and stealing 14 bases. He was only an average catcher, but he was fast and competitive and he earned a reputation as a hustler.
In 1924, Mickey signed with the Portland, Oregon, team of the Pacific Coast League, one step below the major leagues. Connie Mack, owner of the Philadelphia Athletics, wanted Mickey so badly that he bought controlling interest in the Portland team. A year later, Mickey joined the Athletics.
Mickey’s first year with the Athletics was important because he learned to be a better catcher. When he signed on with Philadelphia, the team already had a good catcher, Ralph “Cy” Perkins, who was nearing the end of his career. Perkins gave Mickey a considerable amount of coaching and helped him to improve his skills.
The Emerging Champion
The catcher’s job is one of the most physically demanding of any on a baseball team, and it takes great stamina to play many games at that position. Mickey had that stamina. In his first season in the majors, he caught in more than one hundred games, and he caught in one hundred or more games in each of the next ten seasons, from 1926 to 1935.
During those first eleven years, Mickey—now called “Black Mike” by many teammates and fans—also proved himself to be a great base runner and hitter. He batted .331 his first season, and dipped below .300 only three times in the next ten years. His lifetime batting average was an impressive .320.
One of his greatest years was 1928, when he was named the American League’s (AL’s) most valuable player. Mickey batted only .293 that year, but the Athletics finished second in the league and Mickey’s leadership was important to the team’s overall success.
The Athletics won the AL pennant in 1929, 1930, and 1931, and won the 1929 and 1930 World Series. Owner Connie Mack said that Mickey was the most important reason for the team’s success, although there were other big stars on the team, including Jimmie Foxx and Lefty Grove. Mickey had a way of encouraging his teammates and of soothing temperamental stars.
Mickey’s abilities at bat, on the base paths, and behind the plate—and his ability to lead the team—helped make the Athletics winners. He batted a career-high .357 in 1930 and .349 in 1931, and drove in more than 80 runs both years.
Continuing the Story
In 1934, Mickey became a player-manager for the Detroit Tigers. He was still the league’s best catcher, and he was fulfilling his childhood dream of managing. That first year with Detroit, Mickey led the Tigers to the AL pennant.
Mickey’s playing career ended on May 25, 1937, when he was hit in the head by a pitch thrown by Irving “Bump” Hadley of the Yankees. He was carried off the field and remained unconscious for ten days. He never played again. Many people believe that if Mickey were playing today, the protective helmet that batters are now required to wear would have saved him from such serious injury.
The Tigers released Mickey the next year, but he returned to baseball in 1950 as general manager for his old team, the Athletics. He later scouted for the Yankees and Tigers, and in 1960, he became a vice president in the Tigers organization, a job he held until his death.
In between baseball jobs, Mickey ran a dude ranch in Wyoming, worked for a trucking company, and, during World War II, served in the U.S. Navy’s fitness program. Whenever an opportunity came along, he returned to baseball. In 1947, he was between baseball jobs when he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
On June 28, 1962, suffering from a respiratory ailment, Mickey died in Lake Forest, Illinois. He was only fifty-nine years old. His life, like his playing career, had been suddenly cut short.
Summary
Mickey Cochrane was a powerful hitter, a fast and smart base runner, and a fine defensive catcher. Perhaps most important, he was a natural leader, able to help his teammates play their best, too. In a career limited to only thirteen seasons because of injury, he led his team to the pennant five times.
Bibliography
Bevis, Charlie. Mickey Cochrane: The Life of a Baseball Hall of Fame Catcher. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 1998.
James, Bill. The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. New York: Free Press, 2003.
Roberts, Russell. One Hundred Baseball Legends Who Shaped Sports History. San Mateo, Calif.: Bluewood Books, 2003.
Shatzkin, Mike, Stephen Holtje, and Jane Charlton, eds. The Ballplayers: Baseball’s Ultimate Biographical Reference. New York: Ideal Logic Press, 1999.