Alta Cohen
Encyclopedia
Albert Cohen, nicknamed "Alta," (December 25, 1908, in Brooklyn, New York – March 11, 2003, in Maplewood, New Jersey
), was a former professional baseball player.
In the minor leagues, he was an All Star with the Triple A Toledo Mud Hens
.http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Cohen.Alta.Obit.html
In 1931 he batted .316–5–47 for the Hartford Senators
, and led the league in walks (87).
Cohen made a strange major league debut in the second game of the 1931 season. The Dodgers were playing at Boston. As Jack Kavanagh
and Norman Macht told it in their book, “Uncle Robbie,” “The Robins (Dodgers) were still batting and before the inning was over, Robinson had used Boone as a pinch-hitter for the pitcher. When the inning ended, Boone headed for right field and was announced as Herman’s replacement. However, the score was close again. Robbie didn’t like having Boone defending the vast spaces of Braves Field
. He looked down the bench and spotted Cohen. ‘Take over for Boone,’ he ordered and the youngster raced to right field. This made Cohen a replacement for Boone, who had batted for the pitcher, not Herman. When the Robins came to bat, though, the eager rookie stepped to the plate in Herman’s cleanup spot. He singled and the Braves failed to appeal the fact he had batted out of order. Brooklyn’s rally kept going and Cohen’s correct turn, ninth in the order, came around. Cohen stepped to the plate again and lined his second hit in the inning. Among the beat writers covering the game was a journalist who became one of America’s favorite feature writers and book authors. After the game, Quentin Reynolds
heard Alva Cohen naively wonder whether anything would be told in the papers about his feat, ‘I’d like my mother to know,’ he told Reynolds, a writer who was always looking for an angle. The reporter wrote his game account as a letter to Mrs. Cohen at her home in Newark
. In the middle of the night, Reynolds was awakened by an irate editor at the New York World-Telegram
. ‘Where’s your copy?’ he demanded. Reynolds insisted he had filed it hours earlier. He dressed and took a cab to the Western Union
office, where he learned the news story had been delivered as an 800-word collect telegram to Mrs. Cohen. He never asked who paid for the wire.”
The next day, Cohen was farmed out to Hartford. Cohen was leading the Eastern League in hitting in 1932 with a .409 average in 59 games when the league folded in mid-season.
He became a pitcher and had two good years with Toledo (American Association) in 1936–37 with a 29–19 record.
He played outfield
in the majors from 1931–33 with the Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers
and Cincinnati Reds
.
Cohen’s father gave him the name Alta (Yiddish for “old”) as the traditional Jewish trick to fool the angel of death during the 1918 flu epidemic. In the majors, Alta’s teammates called him “Schoolboy.”
Cohen founded the Altco Products Co. in 1940, with offices throughout the state, and served as president for 44 years years before retiring in 1984. He was a member of the board of directors of the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
and the Daughters of Israel Geriatric Center in West Orange
, and a member of the Green Brook Country Club in North Caldwell. Also a philanthropist, he was honored in the 1980s by Hebrew University, in New York City.
He lived in Verona
and South Orange before moving to Maplewood, New Jersey
, where he died in his home.
Maplewood, New Jersey
Maplewood is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 23,867.-History:...
), was a former professional baseball player.
In the minor leagues, he was an All Star with the Triple A Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
.http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Cohen.Alta.Obit.html
In 1931 he batted .316–5–47 for the Hartford Senators
Hartford Senators
The Hartford Senators were a minor league baseball team based in Hartford, Connecticut. They operated in the Connecticut League from 1902-1912, the Eastern Association from 1913-1914, the Eastern League from 1916-1932 and the Northeastern League in 1934. For the 1932 season they were affiliated...
, and led the league in walks (87).
Cohen made a strange major league debut in the second game of the 1931 season. The Dodgers were playing at Boston. As Jack Kavanagh
Jack Kavanagh
Jack KavanaghHe moved to Australia in 1925, and was a central leader of the Communist Party of Australia until 1930, when the Stalinist Comintern removed him from the leadership. He was expelled from the party in January 1931, readmitted, and then expelled a second time in 1934 after being accused...
and Norman Macht told it in their book, “Uncle Robbie,” “The Robins (Dodgers) were still batting and before the inning was over, Robinson had used Boone as a pinch-hitter for the pitcher. When the inning ended, Boone headed for right field and was announced as Herman’s replacement. However, the score was close again. Robbie didn’t like having Boone defending the vast spaces of Braves Field
Braves Field
Braves Field was a baseball park that formerly stood on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. The stadium was home to the Boston Braves National League franchise from 1915–1952, when the team moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
. He looked down the bench and spotted Cohen. ‘Take over for Boone,’ he ordered and the youngster raced to right field. This made Cohen a replacement for Boone, who had batted for the pitcher, not Herman. When the Robins came to bat, though, the eager rookie stepped to the plate in Herman’s cleanup spot. He singled and the Braves failed to appeal the fact he had batted out of order. Brooklyn’s rally kept going and Cohen’s correct turn, ninth in the order, came around. Cohen stepped to the plate again and lined his second hit in the inning. Among the beat writers covering the game was a journalist who became one of America’s favorite feature writers and book authors. After the game, Quentin Reynolds
Quentin Reynolds
Quentin James Reynolds was a journalist and World War II war correspondent.As associate editor at Collier's Weekly from 1933 to 1945, Reynolds averaged twenty articles a year...
heard Alva Cohen naively wonder whether anything would be told in the papers about his feat, ‘I’d like my mother to know,’ he told Reynolds, a writer who was always looking for an angle. The reporter wrote his game account as a letter to Mrs. Cohen at her home in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. In the middle of the night, Reynolds was awakened by an irate editor at the New York World-Telegram
New York World-Telegram
The New York World-Telegram, later known as the New York World-Telegram and Sun, was a New York City newspaper from 1931 to 1966.-History:...
. ‘Where’s your copy?’ he demanded. Reynolds insisted he had filed it hours earlier. He dressed and took a cab to the Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
office, where he learned the news story had been delivered as an 800-word collect telegram to Mrs. Cohen. He never asked who paid for the wire.”
The next day, Cohen was farmed out to Hartford. Cohen was leading the Eastern League in hitting in 1932 with a .409 average in 59 games when the league folded in mid-season.
He became a pitcher and had two good years with Toledo (American Association) in 1936–37 with a 29–19 record.
He played outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
in the majors from 1931–33 with the Brooklyn Robins/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...
and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
Cohen’s father gave him the name Alta (Yiddish for “old”) as the traditional Jewish trick to fool the angel of death during the 1918 flu epidemic. In the majors, Alta’s teammates called him “Schoolboy.”
Cohen founded the Altco Products Co. in 1940, with offices throughout the state, and served as president for 44 years years before retiring in 1984. He was a member of the board of directors of the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, previously Newark Beth Israel Hospital, is the largest hospital in Newark, New Jersey, in the United States. It was run under auspices of the Newark Jewish Community and its suburban successors from its inception in 1900-1901 until its purchase by the St Barnabas...
and the Daughters of Israel Geriatric Center in West Orange
West Orange
West Orange may refer to:Places:* West Orange, New Jersey, a township in Essex County, New Jersey* West Orange, Texas, a city in Orange County, TexasSchools:* West Orange High School , a public school in West Orange, New Jersey...
, and a member of the Green Brook Country Club in North Caldwell. Also a philanthropist, he was honored in the 1980s by Hebrew University, in New York City.
He lived in Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
and South Orange before moving to Maplewood, New Jersey
Maplewood, New Jersey
Maplewood is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 23,867.-History:...
, where he died in his home.