Victor Cole
Encyclopedia
Victor Cole is a former professional baseball
pitcher, the first player born in the USSR to play in Major League Baseball
. Cole was the 5th player to be born in what is now Russia.
Cole appeared in eight games for the 1992 Pittsburgh Pirates
, with an 0-2 record, 12 strikeouts and allowing 14 earned runs.
Cole attended Santa Clara University
in California
. Cole's father, from Sierra Leone, studied medicine in Russia and married a Russian woman.
Cole was taken by the Kansas City Royals
in the 14th round of the 1988 amateur draft. He was traded to the Pirates May 3, 1991 for Carmelo Martinez
.
Cole played in the Milwaukee Brewers
organization
in 1994 and the San Diego Padres
organization in 1995 and 1996. He then went to play in the Taiwan Major League
for Kaoping Fala in 1997. Cole returned to the minors in 1998 and 1999 with the Chicago Cubs
. He spent 2000 with the Memphis Redbirds
, a AAA
affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals
and SK Wyverns
of the Korea Baseball Organization
. Cole spent 2001 and 2002 with the KBO's Doosan Bears
before retiring. In his ten seasons in the minor leagues, he had a record of 37 - 36 with an ERA of 3.70.
In 2003, Cole joined the Russia national baseball team
. He also joined the team on its tour of the North American
-based independent Northeast League. Cole was with the team again in 2007. He did not play in the European Championship
either year as he did not have a Russian passport.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher, the first player born in the USSR to play 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...
. Cole was the 5th player to be born in what is now Russia.
Cole appeared in eight games for the 1992 Pittsburgh Pirates
1992 Pittsburgh Pirates season
The 1992 Pittsburgh Pirates season saw the Pirates finish first in the National League East with a record of 96 wins and 66 losses. It was the third consecutive division title for the team. The Pirates once again fell short in the postseason, losing a riveting seven-game National League...
, with an 0-2 record, 12 strikeouts and allowing 14 earned runs.
Cole attended Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Cole's father, from Sierra Leone, studied medicine in Russia and married a Russian woman.
Cole was taken by 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...
in the 14th round of the 1988 amateur draft. He was traded to the Pirates May 3, 1991 for Carmelo Martinez
Carmelo Martinez
Carmelo Martínez Salgado is a former professional baseball player. He played all or part of nine seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily as a first baseman and outfielder, from 1983 to 1991. He also played one season in Japan for the Orix BlueWave in...
.
Cole played in the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
organization
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
in 1994 and the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
organization in 1995 and 1996. He then went to play in the Taiwan Major League
Taiwan Major League
The Taiwan Major League was a professional baseball league in Taiwan that operated from 1996 to 2003. It was established by TV tycoon Chiu Fu-sheng after a row over CPBL broadcasting rights...
for Kaoping Fala in 1997. Cole returned to the minors in 1998 and 1999 with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. He spent 2000 with 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...
, a AAA
AAA (baseball)
Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
affiliate of 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 SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:...
of the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
. Cole spent 2001 and 2002 with the KBO's Doosan Bears
Doosan Bears
The Doosan Bears are a professional baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. They are a member of the Korean Baseball Organization....
before retiring. In his ten seasons in the minor leagues, he had a record of 37 - 36 with an ERA of 3.70.
In 2003, Cole joined the Russia national baseball team
Russia national baseball team
The Russia national baseball team is the national baseball team of Russia. The team competes in the bi-annual European Baseball Championship.-Placings:Baseball World Cup : 16th : 13th : 14thIntercontinental Cup : 9th...
. He also joined the team on its tour of the North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
-based independent Northeast League. Cole was with the team again in 2007. He did not play in the European Championship
European Baseball Championship
The European Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Europe, governed by the Confederation of European Baseball . Italy won the inaugural European Baseball Championship in , and the competition has since been dominated by the Italian team and the...
either year as he did not have a Russian passport.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- New York Times mention
- Baseball trivia