Alex Cole
Born: 8/17/1965 in Fayetteville, NC, USA
Died: 8/11/2023 in Chesterfield, VA, USA
MLB Debut: 1990-07-27 | Final Game: 1996-05-22
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Alexander Cole
Biography
Alex Cole, born in 1965, was a professional baseball player known for his speed and versatility on the field. He played in Major League Baseball from 1990 until his retirement in 1996, appearing in a total of 573 games. Cole showcased his ability as a position player, finishing his career with a commendable batting average of .28, accumulating 493 hits, 5 home runs, and 117 RBIs. His base-running skills were particularly notable, as he stole 148 bases throughout his career, establishing himself as a significant threat on the bases.
Cole played during a transformative period in baseball, marked by the increasing emphasis on speed and athleticism in the game. His contributions as a consistent performer and base stealer reflected the evolving strategies of the time, as teams began to prioritize players capable of making an impact with their legs as well as their bats. Though his power numbers were modest, his efficiency at getting on base and creating scoring opportunities made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 573 | 1760 | 286 | 493 | 58 | 26 | 5 | 117 | 148 | 217 | 296 | 0.280 | 0.360 | 0.351 | 0.711 | -95.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | CLE | AL | 63 | 227 | 43 | 68 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 40 | 28 | 38 | 0.300 | 255.8 |
| 1991 | CLE | AL | 122 | 387 | 58 | 114 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 27 | 58 | 47 | 0.295 | 606.9 |
| 1992 | CLE | AL | 41 | 97 | 11 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 21 | 0.206 | -428.5 |
| 1992 | PIT | NL | 64 | 205 | 33 | 57 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 18 | 46 | 0.278 | -428.5 |
| 1993 | COL | NL | 126 | 348 | 50 | 89 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 30 | 43 | 58 | 0.256 | -725.3 |
| 1994 | MIN | AL | 105 | 345 | 68 | 102 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 23 | 29 | 44 | 60 | 0.296 | 244.1 |
| 1995 | MIN | AL | 28 | 79 | 10 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 0.342 | 242.3 |
| 1996 | BOS | AL | 24 | 72 | 13 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 0.222 | -261.8 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0.200 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | NLCS | PIT | 4 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0.200 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 483 | 416 | 1064 | 26 | 32 | 5 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | CLE | OF | 59 | 57 | 145 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| 1991 | CLE | OF | 107 | 95 | 256 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
| 1992 | CLE | OF | 24 | 17 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1992 | PIT | OF | 53 | 46 | 85 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | COL | OF | 93 | 85 | 219 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 1994 | MIN | OF | 100 | 82 | 245 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| 1995 | MIN | OF | 23 | 17 | 44 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1996 | BOS | OF | 24 | 17 | 37 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 42 |
| Center Field | 390 |
| Right Field | 54 |
| Designated Hitter | 14 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Player of the Week | Week of 1990-08-04 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | MIN | AL | $500,000 |
| 1994 | MIN | AL | $375,000 |
| 1993 | COL | NL | $350,000 |
| 1992 | CLE | AL | $162,500 |
| 1991 | CLE | AL | $155,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $1,542,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| State College of Florida - Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton | FL | 1984, 1985 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 9th | 1.0 | 140 | 0 |