Cookie Rojas

Cookie Rojas
Second baseman/Manager
Born:(1939-03-06)March 6, 1939 Havana, Cuba
Batted:Right Threw:Right
MLB debut
April 10, 1962, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 1977, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
Batting average	.263
Home runs	54
Runs batted in	593
Managerial record	76–79
Winning %	.490
Teams
As player Cincinnati Reds(1962) Philadelphia Phillies(1963–1969) St. Louis Cardinals(1970) Kansas City Royals(1970–1977) As manager California Angels(1988) Florida Marlins(1996)
Career highlights and awards
5×All-Star(1965,1971–1974) Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame

In thisSpanish name,the first or paternalsurnameisRojasand the second or maternal family name isRivas.

Octavio Víctor "Cookie" Rojas Rivas(born March 6, 1939), is a Cuban-American former professionalbaseballplayer,coach,managerand current televisionsports presenter.He played inMajor League Baseballas asecond basemanandoutfielderfrom1962to1977,most prominently for thePhiladelphia Phillieswhere he first became anAll-Starplayer, and later with theKansas City Royalswhere his veteran experience and leadership played an integral role in helping the young Royals franchise develop into a championship team.

Although Rojas began his career as a second baseman, he was an extremely versatile athlete who could play anydefensive position.He was named to four consecutive American League (AL) All-Star teams (1971-74) during his tenure with Kansas City and led the AL infielding percentagein1971,including a 52-game errorless streak as a second baseman.

After his playing career, Rojas worked as a coach for theChicago Cubsand theCalifornia Angelsbefore he became the manager of the Angels in 1988. He later worked as a coach for theFlorida Marlins,New York Metsand theToronto Blue Jays,participating in his firstWorld Serieswith the Mets in2000.

In 2003, Rojas began working for theMiami Marlinson their Spanish-language telecasts as acolor commentator.In1987,he was inducted into theKansas City Royals Hall of Fame,and he was inducted into theHispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Famein 2011.

Early life and minor leagues

Playing baseball over the objections of his father, who wanted him to be a doctor, Rojas signed his firstprofessional baseballcontract with the Cincinnati Reds as a 17-year-old amateur free agent prior to the start of the 1956 season.Rojas was then assigned to Cincinnati's D-level team, theWest Palm Beach Sun Chiefsin theFlorida State League.

From 1957 to 1959, Rojas would make steady progress through the Reds' minor league system, playing for theWausau Lumberjacksin the C-levelNorthern Leaguein 1957, theSavannah Redlegsin the Single ASally Leaguein 1958, before coming home and playing for theHavana Sugar Kingsin the AAAInternational League.His advancement through the system was steady despite his batting average falling every year between 1956 and 1960, finally bottoming out at.225.

Although he possessed an above-average glove, the Reds were not sure he'd ever hit enough to play regularly in the majors. Consequently, he would spend the next three seasons at AAA, playing for Havana and theJersey City Jerseys,where he would continue to struggle with his bat while being blocked in the majors by superior Reds' second basemen in All StarsJohnny Temple,Billy Martin,andDon Blasingame.Rojas would finally go north with the Reds at the beginning of the 1962 season and would make his major league debut on April 10. However, he would continue to show little at the plate, hitting.221 with only 2 extra base hits in 78 at bats, and would be sent down to the AAADallas-Fort Worth Spursfor the remainder of the season.

Major league career

After the 1962 season, Rojas was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for relief pitcherJim Owens.Although the Phillies already had an All-Star second baseman in fellow CubanTony Taylor,Rojas had seen the last of the minor leagues and would man second in 27 games in 1963. Although he became the regular Phillies second baseman in 1965,Rojas would go on to play at every fielding position, including catcher and pitcher, but would see the bulk of his playing time in the outfield and shortstop in addition to second base. Getting more playing time helped improve his batting, as Rojas hit.291 in 1964 and a career-high.303 in 1965, when he was named to his firstAll-Starteam. As a Phillie, Rojas teamed with shortstopBobby Winein a stellar double-play combination that media and fans began to refer as “The Plays of Wine and Rojas,” a takeoff of the song,The Days of Wine and Roses.

Rojas with the Kansas City Royals

Following the 1969 season in which Rojas hit only.228 and hot prospectDenny Doyletore through AAA with a.310 average, the Phillies decided to include him in the blockbuster trade that sent slugging first basemanDick Allenand right-handed pitcherJerry Johnsonto theSt. Louis Cardinalsfor centerfielderCurt Flood,catcherTim McCarver,outfielderByron Browne,and left-handed pitcherJoe Hoerner,the trade that led ultimately to Major League baseballfree agency.

By the time the Phillies traded Rojas to the Cardinals in 1970, it appeared his career might be over, as he was hitting only.106 going into the June trading deadline. St. Louis in turn traded him to the Kansas City Royals foroutfielder/third basemanFred Ricoon June 13. Kansas City, a team in only its second year of existence, wanted a veteran presence to steady its infield, and in return for the career–minor leaguer Rico, the Royals gained a player who would man second base for most of the next eight seasons and appear in four consecutive All-Star games from 1971 to 1974.

In April 1970, at least one news report mistakenly said Rojas was critically injured in an auto accident. In fact it was former major leaguerMinnie Rojas.In the1972 All-Star Gamein Atlanta, he hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth inning, which was the first time that a non-American-born player had ever homered for theAmerican Leaguein the mid-summer classic.

Though a fan favorite,Rojas lost his job as the Royals' startingsecond basemantoFrank Whitein 1976, who was much younger than the 37-year-old Rojas and both hit and fielded better than Rojas.Remaining with the team for two more years, Rojas filled a utility role with the team, playing atfirst,second andthird base,anddesignated hitter.After being released by the team after the 1977 season, Rojas spent 1978 on the sidelines. Despite signing with theChicago Cubson September 1, he did not get into a game with the team and retired from baseball.

Rojas is currently in second place on the Royals all-time list of games played at second base with 789, second only to White.

Career statistics

Years	Games	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	FLD%
16	1822	6871	6309	713	1660	254	25	54	593	396	489	.263	.306	.337	.982

His main position was second base, recording a.984fielding percentagein 1445 games at that position. He has played all other infield (including catcher) and outfield positions as well.

Coaching career

After his playing career, Rojas coached and scouted for various teams. From 1978 to 1981 he was a coach for theChicago Cubs.In 1988, he became only the third Cuban-born manager in major-league history when he took the helm of theCalifornia Angels,whom he had guided to fourth place with a 75–79 record before being replaced withMoose Stubingwith eight games left in the season (with the Angels losing all eight games). In 1996, Rojas managed one game for theFlorida Marlinsafter managerRene Lachemannwas fired beforeJohn Bolesfinished the season for the Marlins.

During the 1999 playoffs, while coaching third base for theNew York Mets,Rojas was suspended for five games for getting into a shoving match with umpireCharlie Williamswhile arguing a foul ball call.Rojas also served as the team's third base coach during the2000 season,in which they appeared in theWorld Series.From 2001 to 2002 he was bench coach with theToronto Blue Jaysand was unofficial manager for 3 games in 2001.

For the 2002 season, Rojas was third base coach for theToronto Blue Jays.

Personal life

Rojas' second youngest son,Victor,was previously the lead play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Angels, and is now the general manager of theFrisco RoughRiders.His second-oldest son,Mike,is a minor league manager and former MLB bullpen coach for theDetroit TigersandSeattle Mariners.

In 2011, he was inducted into theHispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame.

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet
• Cookie Rojas managerial career statisticsatBaseball-Reference
• Cookie Rojasat theSABR Baseball Biography Project
• Cookie Rojasat Baseball Almanac
• Cookie Rojasat Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)
• Cookie Rojasat Ultimate Mets Database