Tony Cogan
Encyclopedia
Anthony Michael Cogan is a retired American
professional baseball
pitcher
. He played part of one season in Major League Baseball
in 2001 for the Kansas City Royals
. Cogan, who has been listed as 6' 2", bats and throws left-handed
.
, which he graduated in 1995. He threw three no-hitter
s in his senior season, and was an All-Conference and All-Area selection. Summer of his junior and senior years in high school he played for the Norwood Blues.
Cogan attended Stanford University
, where he was a star pitcher. As a sophomore in 1997 he was Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 Southern Division. He holds the school record for career appearances with 107 (all but one were in relief), and the school single season record of 36. He was 18–7 in his college career, and his 15 saves is tied for the 5th-highest total in Stanford history. He was selected as Stanford’s Most Inspirational Player in 1999.
in the 12th round of the 1999 amateur draft
.
He moved his way from Single A to Triple A in 1999–2001. In 1999 he was a Northwest League
All-Star, as he finished the season with a 1.36 ERA in 39.2 innings. In 2000, he played with three different teams in the Royals organization and was 9–7 overall record with a 2.85 ERA.
Cogan debuted in the major leagues in his third season of professional ball, on April 2, 2001. He pitched in 39 games in relief for the Kansas City Royals
that year, and had a 5.84 ERA. He then appeared in nine games for Omaha of the Pacific Coast League
, where he had a 1–1 record, with 2 saves and a 2.79 ERA.
He pitched in Double A ball for the Wichita Wranglers
in the Texas League
in 2002, going 4–6 with a 3.47 ERA, in 17 games (starting 16). On September 7, however, the Kansas City organization released Cogan.
Before the 2003 season, Cogan was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals
and assigned to the club's AAA affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds
. Placed on the disabled list in mid-April after shoulder surgery, he was released by St. Louis on June 13 and did not play the rest of the season.
In 2005 and 2006 Cogan pitched in independent ball for the Sioux Falls Canaries. In 2006, he went 7–5, ranking fourth in the American Association with a 3.02 ERA. Cogan played out his option with Sioux Falls and elected free agency following the 2006 season.
In 2007 he pitched for the Gary SouthShore RailCats
of the Northern League. Cogan, the Railcats closer, led the Northern League in saves with 25, setting a new RailCats single-season club record. The 25 saves tied for the third-highest total in the history of the Northern League, and was the most for any N.L. pitcher since 2004. He also pitched in the Northern League All-Star Game, and made a team-leading 46 appearances out of the bullpen, with a 2.77 ERA. Opposing batters went 6 for 42 (.143) against him with men on base and two outs.
In 2008 the Northern League named Cogan pitcher of the week for May 26 – June 1. He went 2–0 with a 0.63 earned run average over 14.1 innings, striking out 14 hitters to bring his season total to a league high 25.
Cogan announced his retirement on February 20, 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He played part of one season in 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...
in 2001 for the 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...
. Cogan, who has been listed as 6' 2", bats and throws left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
High school & college
Cogan, who is Jewish,http://books.google.com/books?id=9ZzxydPInwgC&pg=PA281&dq=%22tony+cogan%22+baseball++jewish&hl=en&ei=t01HTpfTJoTV0QH1yJTTBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22tony%20cogan%22%20baseball%20%20jewish&f=false attended Highland Park High SchoolHighland Park High School (Highland Park, Illinois)
Highland Park High School, or HPHS, is a public four-year high school located in Highland Park, Illinois, a North Shore suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Township High School District 113, which also includes Deerfield High School.Prior to the 1949–50 school year, the...
, which he graduated in 1995. He threw three no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s in his senior season, and was an All-Conference and All-Area selection. Summer of his junior and senior years in high school he played for the Norwood Blues.
Cogan attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where he was a star pitcher. As a sophomore in 1997 he was Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 Southern Division. He holds the school record for career appearances with 107 (all but one were in relief), and the school single season record of 36. He was 18–7 in his college career, and his 15 saves is tied for the 5th-highest total in Stanford history. He was selected as Stanford’s Most Inspirational Player in 1999.
Professional ball
Cogan was drafted by the Kansas City RoyalsKansas 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...
in the 12th round of the 1999 amateur draft
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
.
He moved his way from Single A to Triple A in 1999–2001. In 1999 he was a Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
All-Star, as he finished the season with a 1.36 ERA in 39.2 innings. In 2000, he played with three different teams in the Royals organization and was 9–7 overall record with a 2.85 ERA.
Cogan debuted in the major leagues in his third season of professional ball, on April 2, 2001. He pitched in 39 games in relief for the 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...
that year, and had a 5.84 ERA. He then appeared in nine games for Omaha of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, where he had a 1–1 record, with 2 saves and a 2.79 ERA.
He pitched in Double A ball for the Wichita Wranglers
Wichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
in the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
in 2002, going 4–6 with a 3.47 ERA, in 17 games (starting 16). On September 7, however, the Kansas City organization released Cogan.
Before the 2003 season, Cogan was signed by 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...
and assigned to the club's AAA affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds
Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
. Placed on the disabled list in mid-April after shoulder surgery, he was released by St. Louis on June 13 and did not play the rest of the season.
In 2005 and 2006 Cogan pitched in independent ball for the Sioux Falls Canaries. In 2006, he went 7–5, ranking fourth in the American Association with a 3.02 ERA. Cogan played out his option with Sioux Falls and elected free agency following the 2006 season.
In 2007 he pitched for the Gary SouthShore RailCats
Gary SouthShore RailCats
The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a professional baseball team based in Gary, Indiana, in the United States. The RailCats are a member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The RailCats have played their home games at...
of the Northern League. Cogan, the Railcats closer, led the Northern League in saves with 25, setting a new RailCats single-season club record. The 25 saves tied for the third-highest total in the history of the Northern League, and was the most for any N.L. pitcher since 2004. He also pitched in the Northern League All-Star Game, and made a team-leading 46 appearances out of the bullpen, with a 2.77 ERA. Opposing batters went 6 for 42 (.143) against him with men on base and two outs.
In 2008 the Northern League named Cogan pitcher of the week for May 26 – June 1. He went 2–0 with a 0.63 earned run average over 14.1 innings, striking out 14 hitters to bring his season total to a league high 25.
Cogan announced his retirement on February 20, 2010.