Joey Cora
Born: 5/14/1965 in Caguas, P.R.
MLB Debut: 1987-04-06 | Final Game: 1998-09-27
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5'7" | Weight: 150 lbs
Full name: Jose Manuel Cora
Biography
Joey Cora was a talented position player in Major League Baseball, known for his versatility and tenacity on the field. Born in 1965, Cora's professional career spanned from 1987 to 1998, during which he played in a total of 1,119 games. He amassed 1,035 hits, highlighting his consistent ability to connect with the ball throughout his time in the league. Cora finished his career with a batting average of .277, alongside 30 home runs and 294 RBIs, showcasing a balanced offensive skill set that contributed to his teams' successes.
Cora's speed was a notable aspect of his game; he successfully stole 117 bases, establishing himself as a threat on the basepaths. His contributions were recognized during his career, earning him one All-Star selection. Cora played during an era marked by a transition in the game, as the late 1980s and early 1990s saw the rise of power hitters and the evolution of pitching strategies. Despite this, Cora's ability to hit for average and his agility on defense made him a valuable player in any lineup. After retiring, he transitioned to coaching, influencing a new generation of players with the skills and knowledge he developed throughout his career.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1119 | 3734 | 624 | 1035 | 171 | 41 | 30 | 294 | 117 | 380 | 335 | 0.277 | 0.348 | 0.369 | 0.717 | -2317.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | SDP | NL | 77 | 241 | 23 | 57 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 26 | 0.237 | -813.5 |
| 1989 | SDP | NL | 12 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.316 | 0.0 |
| 1990 | SDP | NL | 51 | 100 | 12 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 0.270 | -222.7 |
| 1991 | CHW | AL | 100 | 228 | 37 | 55 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 11 | 20 | 21 | 0.241 | -654.9 |
| 1992 | CHW | AL | 68 | 122 | 27 | 30 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 22 | 13 | 0.246 | 66.9 |
| 1993 | CHW | AL | 153 | 579 | 95 | 155 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 51 | 20 | 67 | 63 | 0.268 | -409.7 |
| 1994 | CHW | AL | 90 | 312 | 55 | 86 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 8 | 38 | 32 | 0.276 | -325.2 |
| 1995 | SEA | AL | 120 | 427 | 64 | 127 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 39 | 18 | 37 | 31 | 0.297 | -181.5 |
| 1996 | SEA | AL | 144 | 530 | 90 | 154 | 37 | 6 | 6 | 45 | 5 | 35 | 32 | 0.291 | -233.4 |
| 1997 | SEA | AL | 149 | 574 | 105 | 172 | 40 | 4 | 11 | 54 | 6 | 53 | 49 | 0.300 | 658.8 |
| 1998 | CLE | AL | 24 | 83 | 16 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 0.229 | -252.6 |
| 1998 | SEA | AL | 131 | 519 | 95 | 147 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 26 | 13 | 62 | 50 | 0.283 | -252.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 98 | 15 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 0.173 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | ALCS | CLE | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.143 |
| 1998 | ALDS1 | CLE | 4 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0.000 |
| 1997 | ALDS2 | SEA | 4 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.176 |
| 1995 | ALDS2 | SEA | 5 | 19 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.316 |
| 1995 | ALCS | SEA | 6 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.174 |
| 1993 | ALCS | CHA | 6 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0.136 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 970 | 879 | 1824 | 2280 | 123 | 526 |
| 3B | 11 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 1 |
| C | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 46 | 21 | 41 | 52 | 11 | 12 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | SDN | 2B | 66 | 58 | 118 | 192 | 8 | 31 |
| 1987 | SDN | SS | 6 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 1989 | SDN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | SDN | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1989 | SDN | SS | 7 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 1 | 2 |
| 1990 | SDN | C | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | SDN | 2B | 15 | 12 | 43 | 32 | 5 | 12 |
| 1990 | SDN | SS | 21 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 6 | 3 |
| 1991 | CHA | 2B | 80 | 63 | 103 | 184 | 9 | 33 |
| 1991 | CHA | SS | 5 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
| 1992 | CHA | 2B | 28 | 21 | 51 | 71 | 2 | 19 |
| 1992 | CHA | 3B | 5 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | CHA | SS | 6 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| 1993 | CHA | 2B | 151 | 145 | 295 | 410 | 19 | 85 |
| 1993 | CHA | 3B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | CHA | 2B | 84 | 74 | 162 | 195 | 8 | 48 |
| 1995 | SEA | 2B | 112 | 102 | 205 | 262 | 22 | 53 |
| 1995 | SEA | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | SEA | 2B | 140 | 119 | 296 | 314 | 13 | 88 |
| 1996 | SEA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | SEA | 2B | 142 | 138 | 307 | 310 | 17 | 81 |
| 1998 | CLE | 2B | 21 | 21 | 31 | 40 | 1 | 8 |
| 1998 | SEA | 2B | 130 | 126 | 212 | 270 | 19 | 68 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1 |
| Second Base | 970 |
| Third Base | 11 |
| Shortstop | 46 |
| Designated Hitter | 22 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Player of the Week | Week of 1997-05-24 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | SEA | AL | $1,700,000 |
| 1997 | SEA | AL | $1,025,000 |
| 1996 | SEA | AL | $850,000 |
| 1995 | SEA | AL | $425,000 |
| 1994 | CHA | AL | $625,000 |
| 1993 | CHA | AL | $465,000 |
| 1992 | CHA | AL | $235,000 |
| 1991 | CHA | AL | $120,000 |
| 1990 | SDN | NL | $100,000 |
| 1989 | SDN | NL | $77,500 |
| Total Career Earnings | $5,622,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | TN | 1983, 1984, 1985 |