Cookie Rojas
Encyclopedia
Octavio Victor Rojas Rivas (born March 6, 1939 in Havana
, Cuba
), better known as Cookie Rojas, is a former Major League Baseball
second baseman
and outfielder
who played for the Cincinnati Reds
, Philadelphia Phillies
, St. Louis Cardinals
, and Kansas City Royals
. After retiring as a player he went on to both coach
and manage
in the Major Leagues. He is currently the Miami Marlins Spanish language TV color commentator.
. From 1957 to 1959, Rojas would make steady progress through the Reds' minor league system, playing for the Wausau Lumberjacks in the C-level Northern League in 1957, the Savannah Redlegs in the Single A South Atlantic League
in 1958, before coming home and playing for the Havana Sugar Kings
in the AAA International League
. His advancement through the system was steady despite his batting average falling every year between 1956 and 1960, finally bottoming out at .225. Although he possessed an above-average glove, the Reds were not sure he'd ever hit enough to play regularly in the majors. Consequently, he would spend the next three seasons at AAA, playing for Havana and the Jersey City Jerseys
, where he would continue to struggle with his bat while being blocked in the majors by superior Reds' second basemen in All Stars Johnny Temple
, Billy Martin
, and Don Blasingame
. Rojas would finally go north with the Reds at the beginning of the 1962 season and would make his major league debut on April 10. However he would continue to show little at the plate, hitting .221 with only 2 extra base hits in 78 at bats, and would be sent down to the AAA Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers for the remainder of the season.
. Although the Phillies already had an All-Star second baseman in fellow-Cuban Tony Taylor
, Rojas had seen the last of the minor leagues and would man second in 27 games in 1963. Although he became the regular Phillies second baseman in 1965, Rojas would go on to play at every fielding position, including catcher and pitcher, but would see the bulk of his playing time in the outfield and shortstop in addition to second base. Getting more playing time helped improve his batting as Rojas hit .291 in 1964 and a career-high .303 in 1965 when he was named to his first All-Star
team. As a Phillie, Rojas teamed with shortstop Bobby Wine
in a stellar double-play combination that media and fans began to refer as “The Plays of Wine and Rojas,” a takeoff of the song, The Days of Wine and Roses
.
Following the 1969 season in which Rojas hit only .228 and hot prospect Denny Doyle
tore through AAA with a .310 average, the Phillies decided to include him in the blockbuster trade that sent slugging first baseman (and known malcontent) Dick Allen
and right-handed pitcher Jerry Johnson
to the St. Louis Cardinals
for centerfielder Curt Flood
, catcher Tim McCarver
, outfielder Byron Browne
, and left-handed pitcher Joe Hoerner
, the trade that led ultimately to Major League baseball free agency
. By the time the Phillies traded Rojas to the Cardinals in 1970, it appeared his career might be over, as he was hitting only .106 going into the June trading deadline. St. Louis in turn traded him to the Kansas City Royals for outfielder
/third baseman
Fred Rico
on June 13. Kansas City, a team in only its second year of existence, wanted a veteran presence to steady its infield, and in return for the career–minor leaguer Rico, the Royals gained a player who would man second base for most of the next eight seasons and appear in four consecutive All-Star games from 1971 to 1974.
In April 1970, at least one news report mistakenly said Rojas was critically injured in an auto accident. In fact it was former major leaguer Minnie Rojas
. In the 1972 All-Star Game
in Atlanta, he hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth inning, which was the first time that a non-American-born player had ever homered for the American League
in the mid-summer classic.
Though a fan favorite, Rojas lost his job as the Royals' starting second baseman
to Frank White in 1976, who was much younger than the 37-year-old Rojas and both hit and fielded better than Rojas. Remaining with the team for two more years, Rojas filled a utility role with the team, playing at first
, second and third base
, and designated hitter
. After being released by the team after the 1977 season, Rojas spent 1978 on the sidelines. Despite signing with the Chicago Cubs
on September 1, he did not get into a game with the team and retired from baseball.
Rojas is currently in second place on the Royals all-time list of games played at second base with 789, second only to White.
, whom he had guided to fourth-place with a 75-79 record before being replaced with Moose Stubing
with eight games left in the season (with the Angels losing all eight games). In 1996, Rojas managed one game for the Florida Marlins
after manager Rene Lachemann
was fired before John Boles
finished the season for the Marlins.
During the 1999 playoffs, while coaching third base for the New York Mets
, Rojas was suspended for five games for getting into a shoving match with umpire Charlie Williams
while arguing a foul ball call. Rojas also served as the third base coach during the 2000 season
. From 2001 to 2002 he was bench coach with the Toronto Blue Jays
and was unofficial manager for 3 games in 2001.
For the 2002 season, Rojas was third base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays
. On July 28, 2002, in a game against the Anaheim Angels, Rojas had a mental lapse and lined up behind second base.
provided radio play-by-play and analysis for the Texas Rangers
, until 2009, when he became a host on MLB Network
. On 3 March 2010, he was named the Angels TV play-by-play announcer. His son Mike
is a coach for the Detroit Tigers
and is a longtime minor league manager and instructor and player development official.
Currently, Cookie Rojas serves as the Marlins' Spanish television announcer (SAP). Rojas also serves as a member of the board of the Baseball Assistance Team
, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping former Major League, Minor League, and Negro League players through financial and medical hardships.
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
), better known as Cookie Rojas, is a former 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...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and 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...
who played for the 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....
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, and Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. After retiring as a player he went on to both 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...
and manage
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...
in the Major Leagues. He is currently the Miami Marlins Spanish language TV color commentator.
Early life and minor leagues
Playing baseball over the objections of his father, who wanted him to be a doctor, Rojas signed his first major league contract with the Cincinnati Reds as a 17 year old amateur free agent prior to the start of the 1956 season. Rojas was then assigned to Cincinnati's D-level team, the West Palm Beach Sun Chiefs in the Florida State LeagueFlorida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. From 1957 to 1959, Rojas would make steady progress through the Reds' minor league system, playing for the Wausau Lumberjacks in the C-level Northern League in 1957, the Savannah Redlegs in the Single A South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
in 1958, before coming home and playing for the Havana Sugar Kings
Havana Sugar Kings
The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played in the Class AAA International League from 1954 to 1960 . They were affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro in Havana, Cuba.-History:The Sugar...
in the AAA International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. His advancement through the system was steady despite his batting average falling every year between 1956 and 1960, finally bottoming out at .225. Although he possessed an above-average glove, the Reds were not sure he'd ever hit enough to play regularly in the majors. Consequently, he would spend the next three seasons at AAA, playing for Havana and the Jersey City Jerseys
Jersey City Jerseys
The Jersey City Jerseys was a minor league baseball team based in Jersey City, New Jersey that played in the International League for two seasons, 1960 and 1961. It was the AAA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team's home stadium was Roosevelt Stadium. The team began life in Havana, Cuba and...
, where he would continue to struggle with his bat while being blocked in the majors by superior Reds' second basemen in All Stars Johnny Temple
Johnny Temple
John Ellis Temple was a Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Redlegs/Reds ; Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles and Houston Colt .45s . Temple was born in Lexington, North Carolina. He batted and threw right-handed.Temple was a career .284 hitter with 22 home runs and 395 RBI...
, Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
, and Don Blasingame
Don Blasingame
Don Lee Blasingame was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , Cincinnati Reds , Washington Senators and Kansas City Athletics . Blasingame batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
. Rojas would finally go north with the Reds at the beginning of the 1962 season and would make his major league debut on April 10. However he would continue to show little at the plate, hitting .221 with only 2 extra base hits in 78 at bats, and would be sent down to the AAA Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers for the remainder of the season.
Major league career
After the 1962 season, Rojas was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for relief pitcher Jim OwensJim Owens (baseball)
James Philip Owens , nicknamed "Bear," is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from to with the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros. He was 5'11" tall and he weighed 190 pounds.Originally signed by the Phillies in , he played in the minors until...
. Although the Phillies already had an All-Star second baseman in fellow-Cuban Tony Taylor
Tony Taylor
Antonio Nemesio Taylor is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1958 through , Taylor played for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers...
, Rojas had seen the last of the minor leagues and would man second in 27 games in 1963. Although he became the regular Phillies second baseman in 1965, Rojas would go on to play at every fielding position, including catcher and pitcher, but would see the bulk of his playing time in the outfield and shortstop in addition to second base. Getting more playing time helped improve his batting as Rojas hit .291 in 1964 and a career-high .303 in 1965 when he was named to his first All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team. As a Phillie, Rojas teamed with shortstop Bobby Wine
Bobby Wine
Robert Paul Wine Sr. is a former shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. An excellent fielder who struggled as a batsman, Wine spent 12 seasons in the National League with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Montreal Expos...
in a stellar double-play combination that media and fans began to refer as “The Plays of Wine and Rojas,” a takeoff of the song, The Days of Wine and Roses
Days of Wine and Roses (song)
"Days of Wine and Roses" is a popular song, from the 1962 movie of the same name.The music was written by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. They received the Academy Award for Best Original Song for their work...
.
Following the 1969 season in which Rojas hit only .228 and hot prospect Denny Doyle
Denny Doyle
Robert Dennis Doyle is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels and Boston Red Sox . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
tore through AAA with a .310 average, the Phillies decided to include him in the blockbuster trade that sent slugging first baseman (and known malcontent) Dick Allen
Dick Allen
Richard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
and right-handed pitcher Jerry Johnson
Jerry Johnson (baseball)
Jerry Michael Johnson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from through . He batted and threw right-handed.-Third baseman:Johnson was signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent third baseman in...
to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for centerfielder Curt Flood
Curt Flood
Curtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
, catcher Tim McCarver
Tim McCarver
James Timothy "Tim" McCarver is an American former Major League Baseball catcher, and a current sportscaster in residence for Fox Sports.-Playing career:...
, outfielder Byron Browne
Byron Browne
Byron Ellis Browne is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Browne was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1963. In his first Major League at-bat, Browne lined out in the second inning of Sandy Koufax's 1965 perfect game. Browne had the dubious distinction of...
, and left-handed pitcher Joe Hoerner
Joe Hoerner
Joseph Walter Hoerner was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. A native of Dubuque, Iowa, the left-hander was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1957 season. He played for the Houston Colt .45s , St...
, the trade that led ultimately to Major League baseball free agency
Flood v. Kuhn
Flood v. Kuhn was a 1972 United States Supreme Court decision upholding, by a 5–3 margin, the antitrust exemption first granted to Major League Baseball in Federal Baseball Club v. National League. It arose from a challenge by St. Louis Cardinals' outfielder Curt Flood when he refused to be...
. By the time the Phillies traded Rojas to the Cardinals in 1970, it appeared his career might be over, as he was hitting only .106 going into the June trading deadline. St. Louis in turn traded him to the Kansas City Royals for 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...
/third baseman
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...
Fred Rico
Fred Rico
Alfredo Rico Cruz is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles before the 1964 season, and later drafted by the Kansas City Royals from the Orioles in the 1968 rule V draft. He was called up by the expansion Royals from Triple-A Omaha when rosters expanded...
on June 13. Kansas City, a team in only its second year of existence, wanted a veteran presence to steady its infield, and in return for the career–minor leaguer Rico, the Royals gained a player who would man second base for most of the next eight seasons and appear in four consecutive All-Star games from 1971 to 1974.
In April 1970, at least one news report mistakenly said Rojas was critically injured in an auto accident. In fact it was former major leaguer Minnie Rojas
Minnie Rojas
Minervino Alejandro "Minnie" Rojas Landin was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels from through . Rojas batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Remedios, Villa Clara, Cuba....
. In the 1972 All-Star Game
1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the 43rd such game, was played on July 25, 1972. The all-stars from the American League and the National League faced each other at Atlanta Stadium, home of the Atlanta Braves...
in Atlanta, he hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth inning, which was the first time that a non-American-born player had ever homered for the American League
American 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...
in the mid-summer classic.
Though a fan favorite, Rojas lost his job as the Royals' starting second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
to Frank White in 1976, who was much younger than the 37-year-old Rojas and both hit and fielded better than Rojas. Remaining with the team for two more years, Rojas filled a utility role with the team, playing at first
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...
, second and third base
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...
, and designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
. After being released by the team after the 1977 season, Rojas spent 1978 on the sidelines. Despite signing with the Chicago Cubs
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...
on September 1, he did not get into a game with the team and retired from baseball.
Rojas is currently in second place on the Royals all-time list of games played at second base with 789, second only to White.
Coaching career
After his playing career, Rojas coached and scouted for various teams. In 1988, he became only the third Cuban-born manager in major-league history when he took the helm of the California AngelsLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, whom he had guided to fourth-place with a 75-79 record before being replaced with Moose Stubing
Moose Stubing
Lawrence George Stubing is an American professional baseball scout, and a former minor league manager and Major League Baseball third-base coach. Stubing attended high school in White Plains, New York, before signing his first professional contract in 1956...
with eight games left in the season (with the Angels losing all eight games). In 1996, Rojas managed one game for the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
after manager Rene Lachemann
Rene Lachemann
Rene George Lachemann is a former coach, catcher and manager in Major League Baseball. Lachemann served as the first manager in the history of the Florida Marlins and also skippered the Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers...
was fired before John Boles
John Boles
John Boles may refer to:*John Boles , baseball executive*John Boles , American actor*John Boles , American sports shooter*John Patrick Boles , American Roman Catholic bishop...
finished the season for the Marlins.
During the 1999 playoffs, while coaching third base for the New York Mets
New 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...
, Rojas was suspended for five games for getting into a shoving match with umpire Charlie Williams
Charlie Williams (umpire)
Charles Herman Williams was an American baseball umpire who officiated in the National League from 1982 to 1999, and in both leagues in 2000. In 1993 he became the first African American umpire to work behind home plate in a World Series game...
while arguing a foul ball call. Rojas also served as the third base coach during the 2000 season
2000 New York Mets season
The New York Mets' 2000 season was the 39th regular season for the Mets. They went 94-68 and finished 2nd in the NL East, but earned the NL Wild Card. They made it to the World Series where they were defeated by their crosstown rival New York Yankees. They were managed by Bobby Valentine...
. From 2001 to 2002 he was bench coach with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
and was unofficial manager for 3 games in 2001.
For the 2002 season, Rojas was third base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. On July 28, 2002, in a game against the Anaheim Angels, Rojas had a mental lapse and lined up behind second base.
Personal life
Rojas's son VictorVictor Rojas
Victor Rojas is an American baseball broadcaster, currently the TV voice of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. -Playing career:Rojas is the son of former major-league player and manager Cookie Rojas...
provided radio play-by-play and analysis for the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, until 2009, when he became a host on MLB Network
MLB Network
MLB Network is an American television specialty channel dedicated to professional baseball. It is primarily owned by Major League Baseball. Comcast, DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications have minority ownership of the new network, with MLB retaining a controlling two-thirds share...
. On 3 March 2010, he was named the Angels TV play-by-play announcer. His son Mike
Mike Rojas
Miguel Angel Rojas is an American professional baseball coach and player development official. A member of the Detroit Tigers' organization since , Rojas was named bullpen coach of the Tigers on July 3, 2011, when his predecessor, Jeff Jones, was promoted to Detroit's pitching coach position...
is a coach for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
and is a longtime minor league manager and instructor and player development official.
Currently, Cookie Rojas serves as the Marlins' Spanish television announcer (SAP). Rojas also serves as a member of the board of the Baseball Assistance Team
Baseball Assistance Team
The Baseball Assistance Team is a 501 non-profit affiliated with Major League Baseball. The organization's stated goal is to "help members of the baseball family who have come on hard times and are in need of assistance," and is guided by the principles of teamwork, caring, and sharing...
, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping former Major League, Minor League, and Negro League players through financial and medical hardships.