Cookie Lavagetto | |
---|---|
Third baseman / Second baseman / Manager | |
Born: Oakland, California, U.S. | December 1, 1912|
Died: August 10, 1990 Orinda, California, U.S. | (aged 77)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 17, 1934, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 28, 1947, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .269 |
Home runs | 40 |
Runs batted in | 486 |
Managerial record | 271–384 |
Winning % | .414 |
Teams | |
As player
As manager | |
Career highlights and awards | |
Harry Arthur "Cookie" Lavagetto (December 1, 1912 – August 10, 1990) was an American professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a third baseman from 1934 to 1947.
Lavagetto started his major league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1934. After the 1936 season, he was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers and was a National League (NL) All-Star from 1938 to 1941. He then missed four full seasons due to World War II service in the United States Navy.[1][2] He returned to the Dodgers and finished his MLB career with them in 1946 and 1947.
Lavagetto is best-known for his performance in game four of the 1947 World Series, when he drove home the winning run with a double while New York Yankees pitcher Bill Bevens was one out away from throwing what would have been the first no-hitter in World Series history.[2]
After his playing career ended, Lavagetto became a coach. He was the last manager of the American League's first Washington Senators franchise, from 1957 through 1960, and the first manager of the Minnesota Twins when the Senators relocated there for the 1961 season.[2]