Bill Cope

William Eugene Cope

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
• School Ohio State University
• High School Glenford High School, Lash High School

• Born October 24, 1923 in Zanesville, OH USA
• Died March 21, 2014 in Zanesville, OH USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Middle infielder Bill Cope played minor league baseball from 1948 to 1954, all in the New York Yankees chain. He reached AAA for a short time in 1951. Cope spent the last three seasons as a player/manager in the lower minors, guiding his team to the league finals all three years.

While in college, he also played basketball. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

With the Joplin Miners in 1948, he hit .258/?/.343 with 26 doubles and 120 hits in 134 games. The next year, he hit .261 with 9 home runs and 99 hits in 106 games between the Twin Falls Cowboys (37 G, .327 BA) and Quincy Gems (69 G, .218 BA). In 1950, Cope hit .310/.394/.392 with 131 hits in 119 games for the Gems. He fielded .931 at shortstop and led Three-I League shortstops in both putouts (283) and double plays (93). He was 6th in the league in average.

In 1951, he hit .260 with 94 hits in 105 games between the Binghamton Triplets (55 G, .269 BA), Beaumont Roughnecks (29 G, .243 BA) and Triple-A Kansas City Blues (21 G, .264 BA). In 1952, as player-manager of the McAlester Rockets, he hit .299/.394/.404 with 145 hits, 33 steals and 85 runs in 130 games and guided his club to the Sooner State League title. He fielded .947 at 2B.

In 1953, again with McAlester, he hit .278/.396/.367 with 113 hits in 118 games while stealing 24 bases, winning another pennant. His .921 fielding at SS was second to Richard Klaus among regulars in the loop. He hit .234/.341/.332 with 50 hits in 75 games for the St. Joseph Saints in his final season, 1954.

Overall, Cope hit .275 with 752 hits in 787 games over 7 seasons.

After baseball, he worked in insurance.

Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
1952	McAlester Rockets	Sooner State League	87-53	1st	New York Yankees	League Champs
1953	McAlester Rockets	Sooner State League	83-56	4th	New York Yankees	League Champs
1954	St. Joseph Saints	Western Association	82-57	3rd	New York Yankees	Lost League Finals