Cookie Lavagetto
Encyclopedia
Harry Arthur "Cookie" Lavagetto (December 1, 1912 — August 10, 1990) was a third baseman
, manager
and coach
in American
Major League Baseball
. He is most widely known as the pinch hitter
whose double
ruined Bill Bevens
' no-hitter
in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series
and gave his Brooklyn Dodgers
a breathtaking victory over the New York Yankees
, a game known as The Cookie Game.
, Bevens was ahead 2-1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs
. He had surrendered no hits — an unprecedented World Series
achievement at the time — but two runners were on base from Bevens' ninth and tenth base on balls
of the game. Lavagetto was summoned by Dodger pilot Burt Shotton
to hit for Eddie Stanky
and he cracked an opposite-field double to break up the no-hitter and score the two Dodger runners for a 3-2 Brooklyn win. It was Lavagetto's only hit of the series (won by the Yankees in seven games) and his last as a big leaguer.
. Nicknamed "Cookie" after an owner of the Oakland Oaks
, his first professional team, Lavagetto played ten seasons in the National League
with the Pittsburgh Pirates
(1934–36) and Dodgers (1937–41, 1946–47). He missed four full seasons due to military service during World War II
. A right-handed batter and thrower, Lavagetto batted
.269 in 1,043 games; his best season was , when he hit .300 with 87 runs batted in for Brooklyn.
was named leader of the Dodgers in 1951, Lavagetto accompanied him as one of his coaches. He was a loyal aide to Dressen with Brooklyn (1951–53) and the PCL Oaks (1954) and followed him to the Washington Senators
when Dressen became skipper in .
. But the Senators' promising 1960 season came too late to keep the franchise in Washington; owner Calvin Griffith
moved the club to Minneapolis-St. Paul
, where it became the Minnesota Twins
.
Lavagetto was the first manager in Twins' history, but he did not finish the season. With the Twins mired in ninth place in the new ten-team AL, he took a seven-game leave of absence in early June, then returned to the helm. But he was fired June 23 with the club still in ninth place. He was replaced by Sam Mele
, under whom the Twins became pennant contenders in 1962. Lavagetto's major league managing record was 271 wins and 384 defeats (.414).
(1962–63), and — back home in the Bay Area
— the San Francisco Giants
(1964–67).
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
. He is most widely known as the pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
whose double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
ruined Bill Bevens
Bill Bevens
Floyd Clifford "Bill" Bevens was a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He stood 6' 3" and weighed 210 lb. Bevens was signed by the New York Yankees at the age of 20 in , and spent seven seasons in the minor leagues, where he threw two no-hitters for the Wenatchee Chiefs...
' no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series
1947 World Series
The 1947 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning the Series in seven games for their first title since , and the eleventh championship in team history...
and gave his 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...
a breathtaking victory over the 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...
, a game known as The Cookie Game.
The Cookie Game
On October 3, 1947 at Ebbets FieldEbbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
, Bevens was ahead 2-1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
. He had surrendered no hits — an unprecedented World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
achievement at the time — but two runners were on base from Bevens' ninth and tenth base on balls
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
of the game. Lavagetto was summoned by Dodger pilot Burt Shotton
Burt Shotton
Burton Edwin Shotton was an American player, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball. As manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers , he won two National League pennants and served as Jackie Robinson's first permanent major league manager.-Playing career: Fleet-of-foot outfielder:Shotton was born...
to hit for Eddie Stanky
Eddie Stanky
Edward Raymond Stanky , nicknamed "The Brat", was an American second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago Cubs , Brooklyn Dodgers , Boston Braves , New York Giants , and St. Louis Cardinals...
and he cracked an opposite-field double to break up the no-hitter and score the two Dodger runners for a 3-2 Brooklyn win. It was Lavagetto's only hit of the series (won by the Yankees in seven games) and his last as a big leaguer.
Major league career
Lavagetto was born in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. Nicknamed "Cookie" after an owner of the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
, his first professional team, Lavagetto played ten seasons 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...
with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1934–36) and Dodgers (1937–41, 1946–47). He missed four full seasons due to military service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A right-handed batter and thrower, Lavagetto batted
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 :...
.269 in 1,043 games; his best season was , when he hit .300 with 87 runs batted in for Brooklyn.
Return to minors and major league coach
After being released by the Dodgers following the 1947 Series, Lavagetto returned to Oakland to finish his playing career with the Oaks (1948–50). When Oakland manager Chuck DressenChuck Dressen
Charles Walter Dressen , known as both "Chuck" and "Charlie," was an American third baseman, manager and coach in professional baseball during a career that lasted almost fifty years, and was best known as the manager of the powerful Brooklyn Dodgers of 1951–1953...
was named leader of the Dodgers in 1951, Lavagetto accompanied him as one of his coaches. He was a loyal aide to Dressen with Brooklyn (1951–53) and the PCL Oaks (1954) and followed him to the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
when Dressen became skipper in .
Senators'/Twins' manager
But on May 7, 1957, with the Senators foundering in last place, Dressen was fired and Lavagetto was named his successor. The team improved slightly, but finished last in , and . Finally, in , Lavagetto's Senators rose to fifth place in the eight-team American LeagueAmerican League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. But the Senators' promising 1960 season came too late to keep the franchise in Washington; owner Calvin Griffith
Calvin Griffith
Calvin Robertson Griffith , born Calvin Robertson in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was a Major League Baseball team owner...
moved the club to Minneapolis-St. Paul
Twin cities
Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are founded in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time...
, where it became the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.
Lavagetto was the first manager in Twins' history, but he did not finish the season. With the Twins mired in ninth place in the new ten-team AL, he took a seven-game leave of absence in early June, then returned to the helm. But he was fired June 23 with the club still in ninth place. He was replaced by Sam Mele
Sam Mele
Sabath Anthony "Sam" Mele is a former right fielder, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball...
, under whom the Twins became pennant contenders in 1962. Lavagetto's major league managing record was 271 wins and 384 defeats (.414).
Later career
Lavagetto then returned to the coaching ranks with the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
(1962–63), and — back home in the Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
— the San Francisco 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....
(1964–67).