Johnny Cooney
Encyclopedia
John Walter Cooney was a pitcher
, outfielder
and first baseman
, then a longtime coach
, in American Major League Baseball
. Listed at 5' 10" (178 cm) and 165 pounds (75 kg), Cooney batted right-handed but threw left-handed
. He was born in Cranston, Rhode Island
.
(Braves, 1921–30, 1940–42; Bees, 1938–40) and also with the Brooklyn Dodgers
(1935–37, 1943–44) and New York Yankees
(1944), while hitting a .286 batting average
(965-for-3372) with 219 RBI
and only two home run
s. He made 159 appearances as a pitcher from 1921 through 1930, all with Boston, winning 34 and losing 44 for a .436 winning percentage
with 224 strikeout
s and a 3.72 ERA
in 795.1 innings
.
In his second stint in the majors, after 1935, Cooney concentrated on playing outfield and first base. His two homers were hit in consecutive games in September 1939, when he again played for Boston. His best averages as a regular came with the Braves, .318 in 1940 and .319 in 1941.
, retiring in 1964. He managed Boston over the last 46 games of the 1949 season when manager Billy Southworth
took a leave of absence for health reasons. During his managing tenure, Cooney posted a 20-25 record and with one tie (.444).
and older brother Jimmy Jr.
also were infielder
s in the major leagues.
Cooney died in Sarasota, Florida
at age 85.
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...
, outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, then a longtime coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
, in American Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Listed at 5' 10" (178 cm) and 165 pounds (75 kg), Cooney batted right-handed but threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
. He was born in Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...
.
Playing career
In a 20-season career, Cooney played for the Boston Bees/BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(Braves, 1921–30, 1940–42; Bees, 1938–40) and also with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1935–37, 1943–44) and New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1944), while hitting a .286 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(965-for-3372) with 219 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
and only two home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s. He made 159 appearances as a pitcher from 1921 through 1930, all with Boston, winning 34 and losing 44 for a .436 winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
with 224 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 3.72 ERA
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...
in 795.1 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
In his second stint in the majors, after 1935, Cooney concentrated on playing outfield and first base. His two homers were hit in consecutive games in September 1939, when he again played for Boston. His best averages as a regular came with the Braves, .318 in 1940 and .319 in 1941.
Coaching and managerial career
Cooney spent the last two decades of his baseball career as a coach for the Braves in both Boston and Milwaukee and the Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, retiring in 1964. He managed Boston over the last 46 games of the 1949 season when manager Billy Southworth
Billy Southworth
William Harrison Southworth was an American right fielder, center fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Playing in and and from to , he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Southworth managed in and from through...
took a leave of absence for health reasons. During his managing tenure, Cooney posted a 20-25 record and with one tie (.444).
Personal
Cooney's father JimmyJimmy Cooney (1890s shortstop)
James Joseph Cooney was a shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Chicago Colts and Washington Senators of the National League. Listed at 5' 9", 155 lb. Cooney batted switch and threw right-handed...
and older brother Jimmy Jr.
Jimmy Cooney (1920s shortstop)
James Edward Cooney , nicknamed "Scoops," was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for six different teams between and . Listed at 5' 11", 160 lb., Cooney batted and threw right-handed. His father Jimmy Sr...
also were infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
s in the major leagues.
Cooney died in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
at age 85.
See also
External links
- Baseball Library
- Retrosheet
- Johnny Cooney at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...