Doc Cook

John Philip "Doc" Cook, born December 24th, 18971 in Texarkana, AR2 3 was a professional baseball player from 1923-1926.

Biography

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Cook was the son of Joseph E. Cook and May (nee Young) Cook.4 He grew up in Texarkana, AR, and was a 1918 graduated Arkansas High School in Texarkana where he played football and was captain of the basketball team.5

After pitching for the University of Texas Longhorns freshman team in 1922, Cook earned a tryout with the Joplin Miners in 1923.6 However, he failed to make the team and was instead sent to Orlando in the Florida State League where he won six games and lost two.7 In 1924, he returned to Joplin and made the team out of spring training, but soon shifted to Texarkana in the East Texas League, going 7-1 in 16 games.

In 1925, Cook signed with Monroe in the Cotton States League and quickly became one of the league's most successful pitchers. After compiling a 15-6 record and striking out 110 battes in 105 innings,8 he drew the attention of scouts for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who purchased his contract in August for a substatial amount.9 10 With Pittsburgh, Cook donned a Pirates uniform, pitched batting practice and traveled with the team, but did not play in a regular season game.

The following spring, Cook trained with Pirates during spring workouts, but did not make the team and was sent to Columbia in the 1926 South Atlantic League where he failed to impress, going 2-3 in nine games. He was afterward traded to Chattanooga in the Southern Association, but soon released.11 In a final attempt to play professional baseball, Cook signed with New Orleans in the Southern Association in the spring of 1927, but was released before the beginning of the season.

After baseball, Cook worked for many years as a civil engineer. He died on December 20th, 1976 in Washington.12 He was buried in Spring Canyon Cemetery in Lincoln, WA.13

Excerpts

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"John Philip Cook, 23 years old, unmarried. His home is at Texarkana, Ark. This is his first tryout in organized baseball. Last year he played with University of Texas the freshman team and also with an independent team at Cameron, Tex. Cook is another pitcher of whom great things are expected. He has the size and a good assortment of curves and a fastball. He bats and throws right handed."14

"Pitcher Doc Cook who was with Joplin last spring and was sent to Orlando in the Florida State League. He won eight straight games down there and then received an injury which put him out for the season. He reports that he is fully recovered and looked it during the drill this afternoon."15

"Pitcher J. O. Cook was bought from the Monroe, La., club of the Cotton States League for a Fall tryout [with Pittsburgh]. He is a right-hander, 23 years old, six feet tall and weighs 180 pounds. He made an extraordinary showing with the tailend Monroe Club, winning 17 games and losing but five this season. Cook was recommended by Bob Harmon, old Pirate pitcher. He will report here September 2."16

"Another arrival Saturday was Pitcher Cook from Texarkana. He played eight games with the Texarkana Texas association club last year and garnered seven wins in eight. Consequently he is looked upon as a likely prospect to fill one of the gaps left by the wholesale house-cleaning which struck the 1924 Diller hurling staff."17

"Doc Cook, a big rookie pitcher from the Cotton States League, [who] was purchased by the Pirates, joined the club today and pitched in the batting practice. He was impressive."18

""Doc" Cook, the young right handed pitching recruit recently purchased by the Pirates, arrived today from Monroe, La., donned a uniform and worked out in preliminary practice."19

"Pitcher John Cook, who made the trip with the Pirates, left tonight for Pittsburgh, whence he will return to his home in Monroe, La. He is a young southpaw of promise, but his services will not be required this year because he lacks seasoning. He will accompany the Pirates to Paso Robles next spring."20

"The biggest deal of the team [Monroe] was the sale of Doc Cook to the Pittsburg Pirates. Cook brought $4,500 to the local club."21

"This is the birthday anniversary of Doc Cook. Not the man who once had a lot of people thinking he had discovered the north pole and who later encountered financial snags in an effort to become an oil baron. The Cook referred to in this paragraph is not a doctor, but a ball player. His complete name is John Philip Cook. The fans had seen Dr. Cook mentioned in the papers so much that they conferred the title of Doc upon John Philip when he was trying to break into the minors as a pitcher, and that nickname followed him into fast company. This big recruit wore a Pirate uniform for about two months this year and he will again be in the spangles next spring when he hopes to stick in the big show. Most of those who have seen him when he was at his best believe he possesses the stuff to carry him up the grade. John Cook was born on December 19, 1902, in Louisiana. He is six feet one inch tall and weighs 185 pounds. His work as a school player and also a sand-lotter earned him a professional job with the Monroe club in the Cotton States League. It remained for a former Pirate hurler to discover the young southerner. Robert Harmon, old National League star, who came to Pittsburgh in a big trade with the St. Louis Cardinals and then retired from the game, recommended Cook. Hickory Bob makes frequent journeys from his large Louisiana plantation, to the various towns in the Cotton loop and he seldom misses a ball game. One afternoon last summer, Harmon had business which called him to Monroe and he attended the league contest. Cook happened to be the pitcher to work that day. When he got into a hole because a couple of errors were made behind him, the big kid without any apparent effort tightened up and fanned the next two batters. He struck out five or six more and won his game. He had speed, control and coolness. Hickory Bob watched him carefully and was not long in detecting the signs of class. He hustled to the telegraph office and wired the Pittsburgh club complete details. John J. McCloskey of Louisville, who scouts for the Pirates, was ordered to hustle to Louisiana and look the young man over. He reported favorably and Barney Dreyfuss purchased the Monroe star. Cook reported to Bill McKechnie last August. Although the weather was warm, the newcomer complained that he felt cool. He had become accustomed to his home state where the thermometer registers from 105 to 115 during most of the baseball season. Anything under 100 caused him to shiver. He took the last eastern trip with the Buccos, but failed to get himself acclimated and after pitching to the batters one chilly afternoon at Boston, he developed a sore arm. Cook remained with the team until the close of the race when he returned to his home in Texarkana, Tex. Johnny Cook is a right-hander and he did exceptionally good work in the Cotton States circuit this year, winning 15 games and losing but six. This record is even better than it looks when one considers the fact that the Monroe team finished fifth in a six-club league. He is scheduled to travel with the advance squad of batterymen when the start is made for the Pacific coast."22

"John Cook's nickname of "Doc" appears to be appropriate at the big pitcher has explored many parts of the country. He has played all over the extreme south and the sections through which the Pirates are now passing are also familiar to him. He formerly worked at bridge building and was engaged on the big Rock island structure that spans the Canadian river just east or Tucumcari. At that time he pitched for the railroad team at that town. More recently he has been in the nut growing business. He has a pecan grove in Texas near Texarkana."23

"John Philip Cook, right-handed pitcher, was the recipient of the pink slip, but in announcing this release it was said a string had been attached to Cook. Bill McKechnie regards him too good a prospect to cast adrift permanently. Doc goes to the Columbia club in the South Atlantic loop."24

"J. P. “Doc” Cook, former [Monroe] Driller pitcher and who was sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates, was in Monroe yesterday on his way to his home in Arkansas. Cook was a Monroe ace in 1925, and was such a sensation that he was bought by Pittsburgh for $5,000, the largest sum ever paid for a Cotton States League ball player. Cook finished the latter part of the 1925 season with the Pireates, but last season was sent to Columbia of the South Atlantic league. He failed to get into good condition and with a very poor ball club fail to pitch his usual high trade ball. Columbia traded cook to Chattanooga of the Southern league for Catcher Hinkle. During the winter, the former Driller was able to secure his unconditional release from the Southern league club and has signed with New Orleans for the 1927 season. The Pelicans made him a very handsome offer for his services this season, according to Cook. He thinks that his arm will be in good shape again this year and that he will be again pitching championship ball for the pelicans."25

Stats

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1923 Statistics at Baseball-Reference.com.

1924 Statistics at Baseball-Reference.com.

1925 Statistics at Baseball-Reference.com.

1926 Statistics at Baseball-Reference.com.