Cot Deal

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Cot Deal
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Batted: Switch
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 11, 1947, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
September 9, 1954, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record3–4
Earned run average6.55
Strikeouts34
Teams

Ellis Ferguson "Cot" Deal (January 23, 1923 – May 21, 2013) was an American

switch-hitter and threw right-handed. A native of Arapaho, Oklahoma, he grew up in Oklahoma City
and was nicknamed "Cot" for his cotton-top hair color.

Deal had a career in baseball from 1940 through 1989 and interrupted only by military service during World War II (1943–44).[1] He spent 48 years in baseball as a player (20), manager (5), coach (22) and executive (1).

Deal died on May 21, 2013, in Oklahoma City.[2]

Playing career

As a sixteen-year-old, Deal was invited by the

Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Lemon, while posting a 0–1 mark in five appearances
.

Deal earned a spot as a

American Association
and later pitched in 36 games for the Cardinals in 1950 and 1954.

In four major league seasons Deal posted a 3–4 record with a 6.55 ERA in 45 games, including two starts, 34

save, and 8913 innings of work. As a hitter, he collected a .167 batting average (4-for-24), including one home run, one double, five runs, and four RBI. His one save came on August 22, 1954, against the Cincinnati Redlegs.[3]

Deal later established himself in the St. Louis organization as an outfielder, catcher and switch-hitting pinch-hitter, while winning 108 games as a pitcher. His highlights included starting and completing a twenty-inning game for Columbus against the Louisville Colonels on September 3, 1949, and collected four hits in eight at bats. He also hit a home run during the 1952 Caribbean Series while playing as a pitcher/outfielder for the Puerto Rico team. Between 1951 and 1959, Deal spent most of those years with the Cardinals' AAA International League farm team, the Rochester Red Wings. He had a record of 61–38 as a pitcher for Rochester. Deal also was a utility outfielder, back-up catcher and pinch-hitter for the Red Wings.

Coaching career

When Rochester manager Dixie Walker resigned after the 1956 season Deal was the first choice to manage the 1957 Red Wings. Deal would manage the Red Wings until he resigned in August 1959. He was inducted into the Red Wings' Hall of Fame in 1994.

Following his playing career Deal served as a pitching coach for the

Cleveland Indians (1970–71) and Detroit Tigers (1973–74). He also worked as outfield coach and defensive coordinator with the Houston Astros (1983–85), as assistant minor league director for the Chicago White Sox (1986), and with the San Francisco Giants
organization as minor league hitting and outfield coach (1987–89).

As a minor league manager Deal led the

AA, 1969); coached and managed the Toledo Mud Hens (IL, 1972 and 1973); coached the Columbus Clippers
(IL, 1978), and returned with the PCL Oklahoma team as coach and interim manager (1979–82).

References

  1. ^ "Baseball in Wartime - Those Who Served A to Z". BaseballInWartime.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  2. ^ "Oklahoma scene: Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars to play exhibition at Cox Center". NewsOK.com. May 23, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  3. ^ "Cincinnati Redlegs at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, August 22, 1954". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.

External links

Preceded by Cincinnati Reds pitching coach
1959–1960
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Franchise created
Houston Colt .45s pitching coach

1962–1964
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Preceded by New York Yankees pitching coach
1965
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Kansas City Athletics pitching coach

1966–1967
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Preceded by
Cleveland Indians pitching coach

1970–1971
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Preceded by Detroit Tigers pitching coach
1973–1974
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