The Guardians announced that former big league outfielder Alex Cole recently passed away. He was 58 years old. The club also announced the passing of Dick Tomanek, who you can read about here.
Cole was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1965. He attended the State College of Florida and was selected by the Pirates in the 11th round of the 1984 draft but didn’t sign. The next year, the Cardinals took him in the second round and he put pen to paper this time around. He climbed the minor league ladder with the Cards but was twice traded in 1990, first going to the Padres and then the Indians.
It was with that latter club that he made his major league debut, getting into 63 games in that 1990 season. He didn’t show much power, not hitting any home runs in his 256 plate appearances that year. But he produced a batting average of .300 and stole 40 bases in just 63 games.
He carved out regular playing time in the seasons to come and generally produced in a similar fashion, not providing much power but using his speed to propel himself around the basepaths. He stayed in Cleveland in 1991 before being traded to the Pirates midway through the 1992 campaign. After that season, he was selected by the Rockies in the expansion draft, becoming an inaugural member of that franchise. He would eventually reach free agency, signing with the Twins for 1994-1995 and Red Sox for 1996, which would prove to be his last season in the big leagues.
Over parts of seven seasons, Cole got into 573 major league games and made 2,012 plate appearances. He batted .280 in that time, racking up 493 hits, including 58 doubles, 26 triples and five home runs. He stole 148 bases in 207 attempts. He scored 286 runs and drove in 117.
We at MLB Trade Rumors extend our condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.
He was quite a speedster. And then Kenny Lofton arrived.
My condolences to the Cole and Tomanek families. Go easy today Guard fam.
He was a fun player to watch from a different era. Fast, hustle, hard work, and doing the little things that added up to a really productive big leaguer.
I remember him well. Much too young. RIP.
Too young..Seems like it’s happening more and more these days..
Yes. A preacher told me once that people are dying now that have never died before.
CardsnWolves: I know you didn’t mean it the way it came out, but as I understand it, you only die once.
He was a great player. Loved watching him play.
Former Indian Bob Kelly must be very nervous today. 2 former Indians passing away and Kelly is in his 90’s…
Really enjoyed watching him play. Always remember those larger sunglasses he always wore. Way too young. R.I.P.
I remember him as one of the original Rockies, a very good expansion team, they swept Dodgers 4 straight in September and cost them the pennant.
I remember him as one of the original Rockies, a very good expansion team, they swept Dodgers 4 straight in September and cost them the pennant
All I remember of him was breaking his leg in a game against the Brew Crew. That was an ugly injury.
I’m sorry to hear he passed away at a young age.
Why all the infatuation with power? Some players, like Cole, aren’t built for power, but are necessary parts for every team.
Also, to some of us, hitting and speed on the base paths is more exciting than watching the “three outcome” players.
I enjoyed watching Cole play. May he rest in peace.
sufferforsnakes: That irritates me, too.”He drove in over 100 runs, had 70 SB, and led the league in doubles and triples. But he only hit 3HRs so his useless metrics indicate that he’s on the decline and should be flipped before the deadline.” Some perspective in these articles would be more useful.
RIP
Too young! RIP.
RIP and congratulations on living out a dream only a select few get to achieve.
RIP.
Well written MLBTR, nice job.
He caught the final out of Scott Ericksons no hitter in 1994. Darn near collided with the SS who didnt hear him calling for the ball. Pretty on brand for the mid 90s Twinkies.
To be fair, Cole had many strengths, but defense wasn’t usually one of them.
Twinkies? According to the article, he played for the Cards, Pirates, Padres and Indians.
According to the article, he never played for the Cardinals and played for the Twins in 1994-95.
Love the overuse of Cleveland instead of the Indians.
Can always tell a MAGAt. Ignores the point of the story. Uses every opportunity to complain about something. No consciousness. No humanity.
Please stop with the politics! Chris could have meant different things, but roob’s pejorative has only one intent.
Yeah he needs to change his roobrik.
Spelling it backwards would be most apt.
He is a Roob
The irony of this post is rich.
Also can always tell a lib….. misconstrues something to call out a person is a “conspiracy theorist”. and shows he is a complete moron in the process.
You still don’t know if Chris intended as Roob said. Should probly tread a little light just in case.
You can always tell when a dumb ass opens his yapper too.
Btw, if Chris read the Tomanek article, the writer mentioned “..he made his major league debut with the Indians..” One time. Not an overuse either. Seems to me the writer had no intent, political or otherwise, to do anything but give tribute to players that have passed. So, I’ll say loss sucks and respects to teammates, family and friends. And to Cole and Tomanek, go in peace.
I counted “Cleveland” once.
Milt, so did I. Chris apparently can’t count OR he needs learn the meaning of “overuse”
Once? You’re a real sensitive one, aren’t you?
sarcasm ckin? I hope
Which the team should still be called. Cleveland gets the Guardians The Washington FB team gets the Commanders. Cleveland should have taken that name or the most popular name among fans that the owners ignored, the Spiders.
Guardians, Indians and Cleveland were used once each.
He had a rough post-game life for awhile there. Hope he found peace later in life. Had the good fortune to see him play against Baltimore. One of my favorites from that 90-91 squad.
RIP Alex Cole. He was a promising player on some really bad Indians teams. Those 40 SB in 63 games was really impressive.
RIP
RIP so young. Had him on fantasy team , when he came up .. on fire … my SB miraculously zoomed. Next season didn’t keep him , keeper league , Went for a lofty $17 in the draft. Never forget him .. see him now in my mind.
First Center Fielder in Rockies history. Didn’t hit his first big league Home Run til the juiced ball year of 1994. Had a very brief cup of coffee with the Red Sox in ’96 which would prove to be his last MLB action.
R.I.P. Alex
I got into baseball in 1990 and started collecting baseball cards like crazy. I can picture his 1991 Score card. It is sad to see players I rooted for as a young teenager pass away. May his family feel peace and comfort in their time of mourning.
I remember watching him when Indians games were free on WUAB channel 43. And he wore the rec specs