Andy Kosco

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=darkblue
bgcolor2=maroon
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white


name=Andy Kosco
position=Outfielder
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=Birth date and age|1941|10|5|mf=y
debutdate=August 13
debutyear=by|1965
debutteam=Minnesota Twins
finaldate=July 30
finalyear=by|1974
finalteam=Cincinnati Reds
stat1label=AVG
stat1value=.236
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=464
stat3label=RBI
stat3value=267
teams=
*Minnesota Twins (1965-1967)
*New York Yankees (1968)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (1969-1970)
*Milwaukee Brewers (1971)
*California Angels (1972)
*Boston Red Sox (1972)
*Cincinnati Reds (1973-1974)
highlights=
*Andy had a two home run, five RBI performance to help lead his Dodgers to victory against the Pennsylvania Pirates 13-3 on May 9, by|1969
*Drove in six runs, including a grand slam against the San Diego, California Padres on April 15, 1969

Andy Kosco (Born October 5, 1941) is a former major league baseball player who was affiliated at various times with the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels, Boston Red Sox, and Cincinnati Reds.

Formative years

Kosco was born in Youngstown, Ohio, an industrial center located near the Pennsylvania border. At six-foot-three and 215 pounds, Kosco was drawn to sports, but also seriously considered pursuing a degree in law.Jim Thielman, "The Cool of the Evening: The 1965 Minnesota Twins" (Minneapolis, MN: Kirk House Publishing, 2006).]

In high school, Kosco was dominant at many sports. He averaged 25 points a game in basketball, and as a senior he had a .700 batting average. Michigan State University offered to have him play baseball and basketball, while Ohio State University offered for him to play baseball and football. cite news |first=Bob |last=Hunter |title=L.A. Expecting Kosco to Provide Clout |work=The Sporting News |page=4 |date=1969-04-26 ]

Early career

Shortly before the 1959 season, Kosco was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent. He was released by Detroit in January 1964, and promptly signed on as a free agent with the Minnesota Twins.

In August 1965, Minnesota picked him from its AAA Denver club to replace injured player Harmon Killebrew. Kosco, who had largely reconsidered his plans to pursue law, accepted the opportunity.Jim Thielman, "Cool of the Evening: The 1965 Minnesota Twins" (Minneapolis, MN: Kirk House Publishing, 2005).]

As sports author Jim Thielman notes, it was common at the time for baseball's commissioner to have input on World Series rosters, and Commissioner Ford Frick suggested the Twins bring their roster to 25 men by dropping a player who had not participated for the entire season. As a late-season replacement who played in the outfield, where the Twins were well-stocked with veterans, Kosco was kept off the World Series roster.Jim Thielman, "The Cool of the Evening: The 1965 Minnesota Twins" (Minneapolis, MN: Kirk House Publishing, 2006).]

Later career

In October 1967, Kosco was purchased by the Oakland Athletics. A month later, however, he was drafted by the New York Yankees.

As a Yankee, Kosco's primary role was to fill in for Mickey Mantle at First base during the back end of a doubleheader and also occasionally play right field.

In December 1968, he was traded by the Yankees to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Mike Kekich. Kosco admitted that he was not happy when he had been told that the Yankees traded him away. He felt a great amount of pride playing for the Yankees, and loved being around Mantle. Upon leaving the Yankees, Kosco said, "I consider Mickey the most courageous person I've ever known. I loved being a Yankee."

In February 1971, the Dodgers traded Kosco to the Milwaukee Brewers for Al Downing. He was traded again to the California Angels (for Tommie Reynolds) and to the Boston Red Sox (for Chris Coletta) before completing his professional baseball career with the Cincinnati Reds, who released him on March 27, 1973.

References

External links

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* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/K/Pkosca101.htm Retrosheet]