Gordon Stanley (Mickey) Cochrane

Gordon Stanley “Mickey” Cochrane

Detroit Tigers Player (1934 – 1937)
Detroit Tigers Manager (1934 – 1938)

Mickey Cochrane was born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts and went on to play five sports at Boston University where he excelled in football and baseball. He believed he was a better football player but chose baseball because it was more established as a professional sport. After spending one season in the minor leagues he made his major league debut in 1925 with the Philadelphia Athletics. Cochrane quickly established himself as the top catcher in the game and a leader on the Athletics helping them appear in three consecutive World Series, winning the first two. In 1934 he was be traded to the Detroit Tigers and became their player-manager. Once again, his leadership was instrumental in leading the Tigers to two World Series appearances winning it all in 1935. Cochrane’s career ended abruptly in 1937 after a near-fatal head injury from a pitched ball. During his career, he was a two-time All-Star and a two-time league MVP. His managerial career ended the following season. Cochrane served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Cochrane’s career .320 batting average stood as a record for a catcher until 2009. Mickey Cochrane was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947, is a member of the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1956. He passed away on June 28, 1962 at 59 years of age.