Alex Cole

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Alex Cole

|position=Center fielder

|image=

|bats=Left

|throws=Left

|birth_date={{Birth date|1965|8|17}}

|birth_place=Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.

|death_date= {{death date and age|2023|08|11|1965|8|17}}

|death_place=Chesterfield, Virginia, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=July 27

|debutyear=1990

|debutteam=Cleveland Indians

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=May 22

|finalyear=1996

|finalteam=Boston Red Sox

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.280

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=5

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=117

|teams=

Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|1990}}–{{mlby|1992}})
Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|1992}})
Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|1993}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|1994}}–{{mlby|1995}})
Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|1996}})

}}

Alexander Cole Jr. (August 17, 1965 – August 11, 2023) was an American professional baseball outfielder.

Career

Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the 1985 MLB amateur draft, Cole made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians on July 27, 1990, and appeared in his final game on May 22, 1996. Cole stole five bases in one game on August 1, 1990{{cite web |title=Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Indians, August 1, 1990 Box Score |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=199008010CLE |website=Baseball Almanac |publisher=Baseball Almanac, Inc. |access-date=20 August 2023}} and, known as a stolen base threat (Cole ranked fourth in the American League in 1990 with 40 stolen bases despite playing in only 63 games), the Indians in 1991 cited his speed as a prime reason for moving back the outfield walls of Cleveland Municipal Stadium. This effort, however, resulted in the Indians hitting only 22 home runs at home for the year. Cole again stole five bases in a game against the California Angels on May 3, 1992.{{cite web |title=California Angels vs. Cleveland Indians May 3, 1992 Box Score |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=199205030CLE |website=Baseball Almanac |publisher=Baseball Almanac, Inc. |access-date=20 August 2023}}

After being traded from the Indians midway through the 1992 season, Cole briefly played with the Pittsburgh Pirates before becoming a member of the inaugural Colorado Rockies team in 1993. He was the starting center fielder and the number two batter in the lineup in the Rockies' first game, against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium on April 5, 1993.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

After spending two years with the Minnesota Twins, Cole signed with the Boston Red Sox and spent most of the 1996 season with their AAA squad. His final game was May 22, 1996.

Cole spent most of the rest of his baseball career in the independent minor leagues. He started off 1997 playing for the Madison Black Wolf of the Northern League, then was acquired by the Florida Marlins and placed on their top affiliate, the Charlotte Knights. He played in the Mexican League in 1998 before finishing his career playing three years with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Personal life

In 2002 Cole pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring to possess heroin with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.{{cite news |title=PLUS: COURT CASES; Cole Pleads Guilty To Heroin Charge |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/07/sports/plus-court-cases-cole-pleads-guilty-to-heroin-charge.html |access-date=20 August 2023 |agency=The New York Times |date=June 7, 2002}}

Death

Cole died on August 11, 2023, at the age of 57.{{Cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/former-pirates-outfielder-alex-cole-154715554.html |title=Former Pirates Outfielder Alex Cole Dies at 58 |first1=John |last1=Perrotto |website=Yahoo Sports |date=August 19, 2023 |access-date=August 19, 2023}}