Chuck Cottier Explained

Chuck Cottier
Position:Second baseman / Manager
Birth Date:8 January 1936
Birth Place:Delta, Colorado, U.S.
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:April 17
Debutyear:1959
Debutteam:Milwaukee Braves
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:May 9
Finalyear:1969
Finalteam:California Angels
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.220
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:19
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:127
Stat4label:Managerial record
Stat4value:98–119
Stat5label:Winning %
Stat5value:.452
Teams:
As player
As manager
As coach

Charles Keith Cottier (born January 8, 1936) is an American former second baseman, manager, coach, and scout in American Major League Baseball.[1]

Born in Delta, Colorado, Cottier graduated from Grand Junction High School, where he lettered in four sports – baseball, basketball, football and wrestling.[2] He batted and threw right-handed, standing and weighing .[1]

Cottier was a good-fielding, light-hitting infielder during his nine-year big league playing career. He appeared in 580 games and compiled a lifetime batting average of .220 with 348 hits, 63 doubles, 17 triples and 19 home runs with the Milwaukee Braves (1959–60), Detroit Tigers (1961), Washington Senators (1961–65) and California Angels (1968–69). He finished his career with an overall .973 fielding percentage.

His playing career ended in May when he sustained an Achilles tendon injury as a member of the Angels[2] and began his minor league managing career in .

Cottier was in his third season as the Seattle Mariners' third base coach in 1984 when manager Del Crandall was fired with 27 games left and Cottier was appointed interim manager on September 1.[3] [4] He led the team through 1985 and into the first 28 games of 1986. With the M's at 9–19, sixth in the AL West, Cottier was fired on May 8 and succeeded by interim manager Marty Martínez for one game before Dick Williams took over.[5] His career record as a major league manager was .[6]

Cottier also was a coach for the New York Mets (1979–81), Chicago Cubs (1988–94), Baltimore Orioles (1995) and Philadelphia Phillies (1997–2000);[7] he was a major league scout for the New York Yankees,[1] and a special assistant to the general manager for the Washington Nationals.[8]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cottich01.shtml Career statistics and history
  2. Howe News Bureau, Seattle Mariners 1982 Organization Book
  3. News: Mariners fire another manager . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . Associated Press . September 2, 1984 . 6B.
  4. News: Mariner GM Claims talent there for winner . Spokane Chronicle . (Washington) . Associated Press . September 3, 1984 . 13.
  5. News: Williams says he's M's new skipper . Spokane Chronicle . (Washington) . Associated Press . Cour . Jim . May 9, 1986 . 21.
  6. https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/cottich01.shtml Managerial record
  7. http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/Pcottc101.htm Coaching records
  8. Leventhal, Josh, ed., Baseball America 2011 Directory, Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2011, page 75