April 6, 1903 - Gordon "Mickey" Cochrane was born. Do you know who he was?

He was one of the best Baseball Catchers of all time. And the 1st of his kind to be elected by the Baseball Writers Association of America into the Baseball National Hall of Fame. 

Photo Source Citation:  1933 Goudey baseball card of Mickey Cochrane of the Philadelphia Athletics #76

The 2017 Baseball Season officially started on Sunday, April 2nd, 2017!!! 

Because of this, we would like to honor this player's career and his family history. Gordon "Mickey" was a remarkable man with many talents - Some of which you may not know.  We will take you on a short trip down memory lane & introduce some interesting tidbits of his journey into fame                         and how it all began

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Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was born April 6, 1903 in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. He was one of seven children born to John Cochrane of Omagh in Northern Ireland and wife Sadie (nee Campbell) who was born on Prince Edward Island near Nova Scotia. His parents were married in 1894 in Massachusetts after having come to America separately in the late 1880's.  They in fact were both descendants of Scottish Ancestors. Gordon's Dad John was a Laborer/Farmer and Gordon had no desire to be a Farmer.  He often shirked his daily chores to go play some sport with his fellow neighborhood friends.  Like most young children under the age of 10, he would rather hunt or fish or run!  Here is Gordon's Registry listing for Massachusetts Birth Records. And also below the 1910 Federal Census for Bridgewater showing whom is living in his household.

Photo Source Citation:  Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911–1915. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915 [database on-line] 

Photo Source Citation:      Year: 1910; Census Place: Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_610; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 1175; FHL microfilm: 1374623

Cochrane eventually went to Boston University on a partial scholarship. He primarily went to this college for two reasons. He could not afford the likes of Harvard. And although LeHigh and Dartmouth courted him based on his athletic ability, he only sought to stay closer to home to be near his high school sweetheart, Mary Bohr, who later became his wife in March of 1924.  Boston University was agreed to be the best fit for Gordon's needs and Boston U won out in the end by acquiring this legend of a man. 

Gordon made an impact in multiple ways for teams at home. He was a multi sport athlete in Massachusetts as a young lad.  Not to mention, he appeared to be a valiant young man too. It is noted within an article written in the Detroit Free Press that Gordon saved a young teen from drowning on the ice one occasion in January of 1923. He also became a Lieutenant in the ROTC program at Boston University where he was a member of that organization for two years. He had a smidgen of Music/Theater in his blood as he played the saxophone, loved to sing and tried his hand at Shakespearean Drama while in school.   And if that wasn't enough - he became a pilot in later years which helped to calm his nerves that eventually got the better of him at some point when his career was winding down. 

Many may not know that Mickey aspired to be an Olympic runner at the earliest age he could recollect. His love of sports was not only found within Baseball. He also participated in Boxing, Hockey, Football and Basketball. Oddly enough - His truest passion for sports was for Football & Basketball. He was in fact a Quarterback, Running Back & Punter at Boston University. It is noted that - For more than 60 years, Cochrane held the school record for a 53-yard field goal that he punted in 1921. Here is a photo below of his time in college among two of the many sports he excelled in.  His nickname in College was "Kid Cochrane.

Source Citation:  Newspapers.com  / Ithaca Journal / October 17 1935

His career after college became Baseball solely...Baseball was the golden ticket to fame.  

The Baseball industry beyond College Athletics came calling his way in 1923.  Many also may not know that Cochrane didn't play as a Catcher initially. He was often found as a shortstop or an outfielder. The position of Catcher, pardon the pun, came into his lap, a few years later.

Here below is a snapshot of "Kid " Cochrane's yearbook from Boston University dated 1924.  You will see his all star involvement for sports listed under his description which clearly stemmed far greater than Baseball alone.

Photo Source Citation:  Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012 [database on-line]

Also below is a snapshot of a newspaper article written in 1924 in the Morning Call Newspaper of Pennsylvania. It recounts a memory of 1922 while at Boston U - Kid Cochrane in midst of a Football game that went wrong. He was unavoidably knocked unconscious and unable to be revived until midway through the game.

Photo Source Citation:  Newspapers.com  / The Morning Call/PA - 20 Nov 1924

One thing is for sure.... (Gordon) "Kid" Cochrane - at that time, was a man of many talents at a very young age. In 1922, at the age of 19, he was already making newspaper headlines for many different things - And, it wasn't even time yet for the Hall of Fame Baseball Career that was soon to come!

In last years at Boston U - Kid Cochrane's baseball skills were witnessed by some of the best in the industry. For a short time, he shuffled his education and actually put it on hold to play for Dover in Delaware in the Class D Eastern Shore League. His way of thinking was to help pay for his tuition. One thing led to another and before he knew it - He did so well that one and only season that he was picked up in 1924 by the Portland Beavers under the Pacific Coast Minor League.  Education fell to the wayside while sports took front and center..  

Kid Cochrane's batting average increased to .333. His tremendous improvement caught the eye of Mr. Tom Turner of the Philadelphia Athletics. Kid Cochrane put that college on hold and officially signed with Turner and the Athletics and his official Major League debut was on April 15, 1925. He was only 22 years old.  

Some may ask where did the "Mickey" come from in Cochrane's name....Well, it was not provided by his parents that's for sure...They called him Mike on occasion actually. Tom Turner, the owner of the Athletic's who signed him into the Major Leagues called him "Mick" It was a name referenced jokingly and was put forth because he was an Irish Catholic who had a fierce competitive attitude as a young man. And so the name of Mick or Mickey stuck. Here to left is a character drawing found in the Jackson Daily Journal that depicts how quickly this young man was picked up by the Major Leagues - Literally only one years time from whence he joined the Minors.  

Photo Source Citation Left: Newspapers.com / The Jacksonville Daily Journal -                               Jacksonville, Illinois -  16 Aug 1925

Source Citation:  1931 W517 Baseball Reprint - #54
Mickey Cochrane - Philadelphia Athletics

Mickey stayed with the Philadelphia Athletics for nine years.  The team was also known as Connie Mack A's,  affectionately named after owner Cornelius McGillicuddy.

Within one year of signing his Major League contract in 1926, Mickey was one of the very best Catchers in the industry. He was unstoppable & envied by fellow competitors. Just as unstoppable as was his talent - So was his personality and the tenacity to win.

He did not like to lose at all. Those who knew him well knew this to be true. Demeanor eventually carried over into a dark side if a game was lost. He was very hard on himself.  Thus another nickname emerged after witnessing his rants - He was "Black Mike".

Even with some very bad days, teammates & mentors molded Mickey's natural talent into magnificence. Payback for their dedication, Mickey helped the Philly Athletics, and later the Detroit Tigers, carry 5 Pennant wins and Two World Series titles. In fact over his 13 Season playing career, Mickey Cochrane had the most acclaimed .320 batting average for a Catcher, not superseding Mike Piazzi of modern day. But to be placed in ranking as the best among all retired Catchers in Major League Baseball.

He was awarded the Most Valuable Player Distinction in 1928 with the Athletics - He would later go on to win that title one more time.  And in 1929-1931, also with the Athletics, Mickey was behind the plate faithfully to help the Athletic's go on to take the American League Pennant three years in a row and to top this by winning the World Series in 1929 & 1930.  Falling just shy of a victory in 1933, his team was defeated in 1933 

At this time in history - the Great Depression reared nasty effects. And in 1932 for the country, as a whole it was very bad. As a result of this tumultuous period, the Philadelphia Athletic's were hit hard.  Connie Mack, the owner of the Philadelphia Athletics, sold many of his expensive star lineup. Mickey Cochrane was on that chopping block. He was sold for $100,000 to the Detroit Tigers as a Player & eventual Manager of that team. Here below is Mickey welcomed into the fold of the Tigers in December of 1933.

Source Citation:  Jefferson City Post-Tribune / 13 Dec 1933

Mickey's family obviously shuffled around quite a bit during those pivotal first years of "playing ball" in the Big Leagues. Much to be commended among those who supported him, and perhaps his biggest influence in his personal life, was his wife Mrs. Mary Cochrane.  Mickey's high school sweetheart stuck with him through all of the drama and also all of the dark moments that "black Mike" sometimes had.  

She indeed raised a family with her husband on the road a significant amount of the time. And did this - during an otherwise volatile time in our nation's history between two World Wars and the recovery from the Depression. 

The Cochrane's  had two children of their own - Gordon S., Jr. born at the beginning of Mickey's Major League career in 1924. And then there was Joan who was born in 1930 at the peak of Mickey's 3 year in a row win for that American League Pennant.  I'm sure there was some stress in that household of which Mrs. Cochrane eloquently stood by her man through thick and thin even though I'm sure she wished on occasion that her family had more time together.    Here below is a  beautiful photo and article written about his family and their children and his love of music. This was captured 20 Dec 1928 - Really only three years into his career in the Major Leagues.  But captures his family life style with his family that stood by him among a very volatile career. 

Photo Citation:  The Arizona Journal - 20 Dec 1928 - newspapers.com

Here below is one of the best photos ever taken of Mickey Cochrane in action on .01 Apr 1933. In the heat of the moment, it was captured during what was to be his last season playing for the Philadelphia Athletics as a Catcher at Shibe Park.

Photo Citation:  Athletics catcher Mickey Cochrane dives home and tags out Phillies base runner Pinky Whitney at Shibe Park, April 1, 1933           National Baseball Hall of Fame

After Mickey was handed off to the Detroit Tigers, his family picked up and moved to Michigan.  Here below is a City Directory Listing for perhaps the Cochranes very first address residing in Detroit. He is listed in this Directory as the Manager of the Detroit Tigers. Coincidentally this was a gem to find as this was his home away from the field that year when he led the Tigers to win their very first World Series. That series was played against the Chicago Cubs - 02-07 Oct 1935.  Of which that game ended in heightened anticipation, hanging on by a thread - with one final play to determine (Cochrane's run batted in) in the bottom of the ninth - final play to clinch the title. 

Here was their home address during that time. 

Photo Source Citation:  U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line] ancestry.com

What a lucky year 1935 was for the Cochrane family.  Not only did he capture a career 3rd World Series Win with the Tigers but he was also credited rightfully for his talents in Baseball in Times Magazine. A loss to Philadelphia Athletics had indeed turned into a huge victory for the Detroit Tigers since they clinched their very first World Series with Mickey on their team. 

Photo Citation:  Cover Credit: Wide World - Time magazine covers 1935

The glory after effects turned in the other direction sadly for Mickey on 25 May 937. He and another player faced a near fatal blow to the head during a pivotal game with the Yankees that literally almost cost him his life.  Yankee pitcher Irving "Bump" Hadley threw a fastball that hit Cochrane in the temple knocking him out cold. 

Photo Citation:  Wilkes Barre Record - 27 May 1937


Here is a pictorial snapshot captured during that critical moment in the game when Mickey was carried off the field. It took ten days for him to regain consciousness while the world was shaken with worry as they had come to love this man for what he brought to the game. 

Source Citation: Article - Bill Dow / Detroit Legends Howe & Cochrane Nearly Died From Head Injuries - 30 March 2011

With time, due to effects of that concussion, Mickey's playing career as a Catcher was ended professionally and for the Detroit Tigers in 1938 when they released him from the team.   

He surely left his mark for other young players to aspire to be like him as he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947. He had played 1482 games & was at bat 5169 times in his lifetime. Not to mention 3 World Series, & 2 All Star Titles & 2 Most Valuable Player Distinctions. 

Photo Citation - Cochrane's Plaque found at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York 

Despite having that head injury - Mickey was still able to serve his country in the United States Navy He was eventually a Lieutenant and was given a commission to coach at Naval Base Great Lakes in Illinois. Here below is the Select Military Register showing his joining service in March of 1942 and also below that a snippet of a news paper article about the start of his baseball career Managing in the military in years thereafter.                                              U.S., Select Military Registers

Photo Source Citation:   United States Military Registers, 1902–1985. Salem, Oregon: Oregon State Library. / Ancestry.com. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985 [database on-line]

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Source Citation at Right:  The Call Leader / Elwood, Indiana Newspaper - 04 April 1942

In fact while serving in the Navy, he was not the only professional player who put civilian life on hold during World War II.  Above is a great shot of Mickey with a few other very well known professional players who served their country during this critical time in history.

Article about them is written by Dan Holmes. It goes with this photo above: Great Lakes Naval Teams Were Best of the World War Era


Mickey Cochrane passed away in Lake Forest, Illinois on June 28, 1962.  He died at the age of 59 years old from lymphatic cancer. Mrs. Mary Cochrane outlived her beloved high school sweetheart and was laid to rest in Arizona in 1999.

Cochrane's daughter Joan lived out her life married to John Cobb and was laid to rest in Colorado in 2007.  And his only son Gordon S., Jr. had served in the United States Army as a PFC but tragically was killed in action during D-Day in Normandy in 1944. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.

114 years have passed since this great Baseball catcher was born but what a career and a legacy to be honored to share with you especially given he was born on the same day as myself, April 6th. :-)

Here below is a small video of a snippet of his career found on the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum Website .. I hope you have enjoyed this Journey Into The Past for Gordon Stanley Cochrane of Bridgewater Massachusetts.  He had many names given to him in his lifetime but none no greater than the perhaps the best Baseball Catcher of all time! Play Ball Mr. Cochrane up in heaven above!

Source Citation:  
Mickey Cochrane - Baseball Hall of Fame Biographies - National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum