Elwood Cook
Encyclopedia
Elwood “Butch” Cook is a former U.S. soccer forward
who earned four caps with the U.S. national team
in 1957. He was also a member of the 1952 U.S. Olympic soccer team.
Cook was selected for the U.S. soccer team
at the 1952 Summer Olympics
. The U.S. lost 8-0 to Italy in the first round. He then went on to play for St. Louis Kutis S.C.
during the mid-1950s when Kutis was a dominant U.S. soccer club. In 1957, Kutis won the U.S. Open Cup, defeating New York Hakoah
3-0 and 3-1 in March and April. In 1957, the U.S. national team
began the qualification process for the 1958 FIFA World Cup
. Cook was called into the U.S. team which lost the first qualification games to Mexico
in April. In preparation for the next two games, against Canada
in June, the U.S. Soccer Federation disbanded the team and selected Kutis to represent the U.S. Cook, as a member of Kutis, therefore played in all four U.S. games. Despite substituting the wholesale roster changes, the U.S. lost both games to Canada and failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Cook was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame on November 14, 1996.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who earned four caps with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1957. He was also a member of the 1952 U.S. Olympic soccer team.
Cook was selected for the U.S. soccer team
United States at the 1952 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. 286 competitors, 245 men and 41 women, took part in 133 events in 18 sports.- Gold:*Lindy Remigino — Athletics, Men's 100 metres...
at the 1952 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Olympic football tournament signalled the arrival of the 'Golden Team'; the 'Magical Magyars': Hungary. Ferenc Puskás, the great Hungarian known as the 'Galloping Major' for his military title, said of the 1952 competition: "It was during the Olympics that our football first started to...
. The U.S. lost 8-0 to Italy in the first round. He then went on to play for St. Louis Kutis S.C.
St. Louis Kutis S.C.
St. Louis Kutis Soccer Club, better known as St. Louis Kutis, is an amateur American soccer club in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1947 as the St. Louis Raiders, the club was known as Paul Schulte during the 1948-49 season and McMahon's during the 1949-50 season. In 1953, the team was renamed...
during the mid-1950s when Kutis was a dominant U.S. soccer club. In 1957, Kutis won the U.S. Open Cup, defeating New York Hakoah
New York Hakoah
New York Hakoah is a former United States soccer club based in New York City.-New York Hakoah I:Originally formed by former players from SC Hakoah Wien, including among others Béla Guttmann and Rudolph Nickolsburger, they initially played in the Eastern Soccer League in the fall of 1928. In 1929...
3-0 and 3-1 in March and April. In 1957, the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
began the qualification process for the 1958 FIFA World Cup
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
. Cook was called into the U.S. team which lost the first qualification games to Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
in April. In preparation for the next two games, against Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
in June, the U.S. Soccer Federation disbanded the team and selected Kutis to represent the U.S. Cook, as a member of Kutis, therefore played in all four U.S. games. Despite substituting the wholesale roster changes, the U.S. lost both games to Canada and failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Cook was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame on November 14, 1996.