Cy Perkins

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Note: This page links to longtime A's catcher Cy Perkins. For the former Negro League catcher, click here.

CyPerkins.jpg

Ralph Foster Perkins

BR page

Biographical Information[edit]

Catcher Cy Perkins had a seventeen-year career in the majors, with fifteen seasons on the Philadelphia Athletics squad. He must have ranked high in Connie Mack's estimation, since Mack, a former catcher himself, was the manager for all fifteen years.

Perkins came up at age 19 and finished in the majors at age 38. He appeared in 1,111 games at catcher, with only 12 games at other positions. He was a regular from 1914 to 1924, but in 1925 lost his job to the young Mickey Cochrane. However, he remained as a backup through 1930. He played in Mexico for two years, playing for Rojos del Águila de Veracruz in 1939, hitting .310 in 32 games. He returned in 1942, playing for Monterrey, though he hit only .169 in 20 games.

Like many players nicknamed "Cy", his real name was not Cyrus. It was Ralph.

The near 47-year-old Perkins entered the Navy in November 1942 and was discharged in 1944.

He became a coach for several champion teams - the 1932 New York Yankees, the 1935 Detroit Tigers, and the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies. He briefly managed (15 games) in the majors in 1937 after Cochrane suffered a fractured skull.

Notable Achievements[edit]


Preceded by
Del Baker
Detroit Tigers Manager
1937
Succeeded by
Mickey Cochrane

Year-By-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1937 Detroit Tigers American League 6-9 5th Detroit Tigers replaced Del Baker (41-23) on September 10
1940 Hazleton Mountaineers / Lancaster Red Roses Inter-State League 62-56 4th none League Champs Hazleton moved to Lancaster on June 12
1945 Burlington Bees Carolina League 42-47 -- none -- replaced Tom Greenwade (4-7) on May 9
replaced by Rube Wilson (21-16) on August 4

Further Reading[edit]

  • C. Paul Rogers III: "Ralph 'Cy' Perkins", in Scott Ferkovich, ed.: Detroit the Unconquerable: the 1935 World Champion Tigers, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2014, pp. 163-170. ISBN 978-1-933599-78-6

Related Sites[edit]