Cliff Cook

Raymond Clifford Cook

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 188 lb.
• High School Sunset High School (Dallas)
• Debut September 9, 1959
• Final Game July 7, 1963
• Born August 20, 1936 in Dallas, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Before the 1955 season, Cliff Cook signed with the Cincinnati Redlegs. A great number of baseball players have put up impressive numbers in the minors but have been unable to translate that into big league success. Cook, a third baseman who also played some first base and in the outfield, was a prime example. Three times, he hit over 30 home runs with 100 RBI in the minors. While he did go 8-for-21 (.381/.435/.571) in a brief trial with Cincinnati in 1959, he struggled with a .208/.247/.315 line in 54 games for the 1960 team. In 1961, Cook was voted the Most Valuable Player in the American Association after hitting .311 with 32 home runs and 119 RBI for the Indianapolis Indians. But he played only nine more games with the Reds; on May 7, 1962, he was traded with Bob Miller to the expansion New York Mets for Don Zimmer.

Cook hit .232/.275/.357 in 40 games in New York and topped off his major league career in 1963 with a .142/.229/.236 line in 50 games. This ended his five year run in the majors, finishing with a career .201/.252/.312 line and seven home runs in 163 games. It must be noted that Cook suffered chronic back problems that cut his playing time and hindered his quality of play throughout his career. After baseball, Cook managed a sporting goods store in Fort Worth, TX.

Notable Achievements

• 1961 MVP American Association Indianapolis Indians

Sources

Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page