Mickey Cochrane: The Life of a Baseball Hall of Fame Catcher [Paperback]

Charlie Bevis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1998

Though many of his contemporaries considered him second only to Babe Ruth in the 1920s and 1930s, Mickey Cochrane is often overlooked by fans and historians. The hard-hitting catcher played on three World Series winners. Cochrane was a highly regarded member of the A's championship teams. But in Depression Detroit, he was an inspiration. The pressure of that adulation and his duties as player, manager and Tigers vice president led to a breakdown. Later, he was hit in the head by a pitch that ended his career. This story of Cochrane's career and his life was researched from primary documents and interviews with his family.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This biography begins at the apogee of Hall of Famer Cochrane's lifeAscoring the winning run of the 1935 World SeriesAbefore focusing on the years leading up to that point. Although less space is devoted to the post-1935 years, those chapters, particularly the ones concerning Cochrane's life after baseball, constitute some of the strongest parts of the book. The author, a baseball writer and historian, painstakingly refutes the oft-repeated canard that Ty Cobb supported Cochrane financially in his later years and shows that while that time may not have been the happiest in the catcher's life, he was not destitute. Bevis is to be commended for thoroughly researching relevant books, newspapers, and magazines as well as conducting extensive interviews of primary sources. The input of Cochrane's youngest daughter and other family members and friends was particularly helpful in this solid retelling. Recommended for all libraries.AJohn M. Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib., Camden, NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Bevis is to be commended for thoroughly researching relevant books, newspapers, and magazines.... Recommended for all libraries" -- Library Journal

"Charlie Bevis has written a quality biography, one sorely needed...makes a good case for Cochrane as the 'greatest'" -- Sports Collectors Digest

"follows the life of the former Athletic and Tiger" -- USA Today Baseball Weekly

"outstanding" -- World-Wide Collectors Digest

"this thorough baseball biography is long overdue" -- Legends Sports Memorabilia

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786405163
• ISBN-13: 978-0786405169
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #845,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Is That All There Is?, December 22, 1999

By 

Grissum C. Smackerson (Toronto, Ontario CANADA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mickey Cochrane: The Life of a Baseball Hall of Fame Catcher (Paperback)

I was so looking forward to reading this book. The effort by Charlie Bevis is good. The content is short and sweet. Seems that 180 or so pages just does not seem like enough information about as fascinating a baseball character as you will ever find. I was left wanting so much more. Of note, I found it somewhat distressing that towards the end of this book, the author did his bit to dispell the rumours about Cochrane being assisted by Cobb in his down and out years of the 50's decade. Even though he got the word from Cochrane's daughter herself that this was totally false, I was not convinced by the author himself. Anyone can flip a story or subject anyway they choose, good or bad. It is up to the author to relay and convince the reader of the truth. Sadly, this is one truth that still has not been nailed down, regardless of denials. Considering the history and negative knowledge of this particular period in Mike's life, it really is too bad that Charlie Bevis had the opportunity and really did nothing with it to solidify claims to the opposite. Too bad for Mike too. The book is good, as is the effort, but lacking in content and duration.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A SHORT AND SWEET LOOK AT A GREAT PLAYER, May 31, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mickey Cochrane: The Life of a Baseball Hall of Fame Catcher (Paperback)

THIS BOOK IS A VERY QUICK LOOK AT THE GREAT CATCHER FOR THE A'S AND TIGERS. I ENJOYED THIS BOOK ALOT. THE ONLY COMPLAINT IS THAT IT IS TOO SHORT AND NOT VERY DETAILED. IT HAS SOME INTERESTING FACTS, ESPECIALLY THE PART OF TY COBB HELPING HIM FINANCIALLY. STILL HE WAS A HARD NOSED PLAYER AND MANAGER. HE WAS HUMAN, AND THIS BOOK DOES A GOOD JOB OF SHOWING HIS GREATNESS AND FAULTS. I RECOMMEND THIS FOR BASEBALL HISTORIANS AND FOR THOSE WHO APPRECIATE A GREAT PLAYER AND GOOD PERSON.