Dick Cogan
Encyclopedia
Richard Henry Cogan was a professional baseball
player and manager who played three seasons in the major leagues. He was 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighed 150 pounds.
, in 1871. He started his professional baseball career in 1894 in the Virginia League and then moved on to the New York State League the following season. In 1896, he pitched
344 innings for the Atlantic League's Paterson Silk Weavers, going 21-21 with a 2.27 earned run average
. Cogan played one game for the major league Baltimore Orioles
on May 10, 1897, and gave up three earned runs in two innings. He finished the season back in the Atlantic League with the Newark Colts and went 20-11 there.
Cogan stayed with the Colts in 1898 and 1899. In 1899, he went 16-8 on the mound. He also played in the outfield and at third base and batted .306. Cogan received his second shot in the National League
that year, with the Chicago Orphans
. He made five starts for Chicago and went 2-3 with a 4.30 ERA. He stayed in the majors in 1900, playing for the New York Giants
, but only appeared in two games for them. His final MLB appearance was on June 25.
Cogan went back to the minors in 1901. In 1903, he was a player-manager
for the Eastern League's Providence Grays
. He then organized the Hudson River League
in 1904, and he played for and managed the circuit's Paterson Intruders club until 1907. Later, he organized and managed a Negro team called the Dick Cogan Smart Sets.
Cogan died in Paterson in 1948. He was buried in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and manager who played three seasons in the major leagues. He was 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighed 150 pounds.
Career
Cogan was born in Paterson, New JerseyPaterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, in 1871. He started his professional baseball career in 1894 in the Virginia League and then moved on to the New York State League the following season. In 1896, he pitched
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
344 innings for the Atlantic League's Paterson Silk Weavers, going 21-21 with a 2.27 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. Cogan played one game for the major league Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
on May 10, 1897, and gave up three earned runs in two innings. He finished the season back in the Atlantic League with the Newark Colts and went 20-11 there.
Cogan stayed with the Colts in 1898 and 1899. In 1899, he went 16-8 on the mound. He also played in the outfield and at third base and batted .306. Cogan received his second shot in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
that year, with the Chicago Orphans
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. He made five starts for Chicago and went 2-3 with a 4.30 ERA. He stayed in the majors in 1900, playing for the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, but only appeared in two games for them. His final MLB appearance was on June 25.
Cogan went back to the minors in 1901. In 1903, he was a player-manager
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
for the Eastern League's Providence Grays
Providence Grays (minor league)
The minor league Providence Grays was the name of several minor league baseball teams between and . These teams were unconnected to the Major League Baseball Providence Grays....
. He then organized the Hudson River League
Hudson River League
The Hudson River League was formed in 1903 as a class D minor league. Upgraded to class C the next season, it continued through 1907 before collapsing. There were twelve cities that represented the league during the five year run; eleven came from New York State and one from Massachusetts...
in 1904, and he played for and managed the circuit's Paterson Intruders club until 1907. Later, he organized and managed a Negro team called the Dick Cogan Smart Sets.
Cogan died in Paterson in 1948. He was buried in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey
Totowa, New Jersey
Totowa is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 9,892.Totowa was formed as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1898, from portions of the now-defunct Manchester Township and Wayne...
.