Chuck Cottier

Charles Keith Cottier (January 8, 1936 – February 1, 2021) was an American second baseman, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball (MLB).^[1]

Chuck Cottier
Cottier on the Washington Senators
Second baseman / Manager
Born: (1936-01-08)January 8, 1936 Delta, Colorado, U.S.
Died: February 1, 2021(2021-02-01) (aged 85) Edmonds, Washington, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 17, 1959, for the Milwaukee Braves
Last MLB appearance
May 9, 1969, for the California Angels
MLB statistics
Batting average	.220
Home runs	19
Runs batted in	127
Managerial record	98–119
Winning %	.452
Stats at Baseball Reference
Managerial record at Baseball Reference
Teams
As player Milwaukee Braves (1959–1960) Detroit Tigers (1961) Washington Senators (1961–1965) California Angels (1968–1969) As manager Seattle Mariners (1984–1986) As coach New York Mets (1979–1981) Seattle Mariners (1982–1984) Chicago Cubs (1988–1994) Baltimore Orioles (1995) Philadelphia Phillies (1997–2000)

Born in Delta, Colorado, Cottier graduated from Grand Junction High School, where he lettered in four sports – baseball, basketball, football and wrestling.^[2] He batted and threw right-handed, standing 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) and weighing 178 pounds (81 kg).^[1]

Cottier was a good-fielding, light-hitting infielder during his nine-year big league playing career. He appeared in 580 games and compiled a lifetime batting average of .220 with 348 hits, 63 doubles, 17 triples and 19 home runs with the Milwaukee Braves (1959–60), Detroit Tigers (1961), Washington Senators (1961–65) and California Angels (1968–69). He finished his career with an overall .973 fielding percentage.^[1]

His playing career ended in May 1969 when he sustained an Achilles tendon injury as a member of the Angels^[2] and began his minor league managing career in 1971.

Cottier was in his third season as the Seattle Mariners' third base coach in 1984 when manager Del Crandall was fired with 27 games left and Cottier was appointed interim manager on September 1.^[3][4] He led the team through 1985 and into the first 28 games of 1986. With the M's at 9–19, sixth in the AL West, Cottier was fired on May 8 and succeeded by interim manager Marty Martínez for one game before Dick Williams took over.^[5] His career record as a major league manager was 98–119 (.452).^[6]

Cottier also was a coach for the New York Mets (1979–81), Chicago Cubs (1988–94), Baltimore Orioles (1995) and Philadelphia Phillies (1997–2000);^[7] he was a major league scout for the New York Yankees,^[1] and a special assistant to the general manager for the Washington Nationals.^[8]

Cottier died on February 1, 2021, at the age of 85.^[9]