Cookie Lavagetto
Born: 12/1/1912 in Oakland, CA, USA
Died: 8/10/1990 in Orinda, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1934-04-17 | Final Game: 1947-09-28
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Harry Arthur Lavagetto
Biography
Cookie Lavagetto was a prominent Major League Baseball player whose career spanned from 1934 to 1947. Born in 1912, Lavagetto emerged as a skilled position player, recognized for his solid batting and agility on the base paths. Throughout his career, he played in 1,043 games, accumulating 945 hits and posting a batting average of .269. He showcased his power with 40 home runs and contributed significantly to his teams with 486 RBIs. In addition to his offensive prowess, Lavagetto also displayed speed, finishing his career with 63 stolen bases.
Lavagetto was selected as an All-Star four times, demonstrating his impact during an era marked by fierce competition and the evolving style of play in baseball. He played primarily for the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he gained fame for his clutch performances, including a memorable pinch-hit double in the 1947 World Series, which helped solidify his legacy in baseball history. His contributions on the field were not only instrumental to his teams but also resonated with fans, making him a beloved figure in the annals of the game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1043 | 3509 | 487 | 945 | 183 | 37 | 40 | 486 | 63 | 485 | 244 | 0.269 | 0.360 | 0.377 | 0.737 | 1790.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | PIT | NL | 87 | 304 | 41 | 67 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 46 | 6 | 32 | 39 | 0.220 | -966.1 |
| 1935 | PIT | NL | 78 | 231 | 27 | 67 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 18 | 15 | 0.290 | -191.3 |
| 1936 | PIT | NL | 60 | 197 | 21 | 48 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 15 | 13 | 0.244 | -444.4 |
| 1937 | BRO | NL | 149 | 503 | 64 | 142 | 26 | 6 | 8 | 70 | 13 | 74 | 41 | 0.282 | 730.5 |
| 1938 | BRO | NL | 137 | 487 | 68 | 133 | 34 | 6 | 6 | 79 | 15 | 68 | 31 | 0.273 | 492.9 |
| 1939 | BRO | NL | 153 | 587 | 93 | 176 | 28 | 5 | 10 | 87 | 14 | 78 | 30 | 0.300 | 1271.4 |
| 1940 | BRO | NL | 118 | 448 | 56 | 115 | 21 | 3 | 4 | 43 | 4 | 70 | 32 | 0.257 | -12.9 |
| 1941 | BRO | NL | 132 | 441 | 75 | 122 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 78 | 7 | 80 | 21 | 0.277 | 870.4 |
| 1946 | BRO | NL | 88 | 242 | 36 | 57 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 3 | 38 | 17 | 0.236 | -95.7 |
| 1947 | BRO | NL | 41 | 69 | 6 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 0.261 | 135.7 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0.118 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | WS | BRO | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0.143 |
| 1941 | WS | BRO | 3 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.100 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 3 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2B | 266 | 0 | 626 | 769 | 67 | 131 |
| 3B | 675 | 0 | 718 | 1168 | 128 | 105 |
| SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | PIT | 2B | 83 | 0 | 214 | 234 | 18 | 39 |
| 1935 | PIT | 2B | 42 | 0 | 92 | 120 | 11 | 10 |
| 1935 | PIT | 3B | 15 | 0 | 8 | 23 | 4 | 0 |
| 1936 | PIT | 2B | 37 | 0 | 85 | 110 | 10 | 24 |
| 1936 | PIT | 3B | 13 | 0 | 15 | 21 | 4 | 0 |
| 1936 | PIT | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1937 | BRO | 2B | 100 | 0 | 229 | 294 | 28 | 56 |
| 1937 | BRO | 3B | 45 | 0 | 52 | 74 | 6 | 8 |
| 1938 | BRO | 2B | 4 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 2 |
| 1938 | BRO | 3B | 132 | 0 | 136 | 229 | 28 | 26 |
| 1939 | BRO | 3B | 149 | 0 | 163 | 278 | 24 | 28 |
| 1940 | BRO | 3B | 116 | 0 | 137 | 191 | 24 | 12 |
| 1941 | BRO | 3B | 120 | 0 | 117 | 215 | 22 | 17 |
| 1946 | BRO | 3B | 67 | 0 | 70 | 108 | 14 | 11 |
| 1947 | BRO | 1B | 3 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1947 | BRO | 3B | 18 | 0 | 20 | 29 | 2 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 3 |
| Second Base | 266 |
| Third Base | 675 |
| Shortstop | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 35th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 29th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |