Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Chuck Cottier

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Chuck Cottier

Charles Keith Cottier
Born: January 8, 1936 at Delta, Colo.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 5.10 Weight: 175

Non-playing roles with Mets

Coach 1979 - 1981

Chuck Cottier played for the following teams:

Milwaukee Braves 1959, 1960; Washington Senators 1961 - 1965; Detroit Tigers 1961; California Angels 1968, 1969

Chuck Cottier managed the following major league team:
Seattle Mariners 1984 - 1986

Share your memories of Chuck Cottier

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Patrick Suarez
April 4, 2002
In 1964, the Washington Senators played a twinight doubleheader against the NY Yankees. Future Hall of Famer Whitey Ford pitched the first game for NY. In that game, Chuck Cottier hit two, yes two, home runs off Ford! I was there and saw it. Also in that game: Washington outfielder Chuck Hinton hit an inside the park home run when nobody backed up Tom Tresh's attempt at a shoestring catch of Hinton's low line drive into center field. It rolled all the way to the wall as Hinton sped around the bases. Also in that game: Eddie Brinkman, sure handed acrobatic shortstop for the Senators actually made a throwing error to first base. Anyway, I'm sure that Cottier has replayed that game in his dreams a million times.

Larry Burns
May 21, 2002
Along with Eddie Yost, my all time favorite third base coach. He was the most aggressive 3rd base coach ever. In fact I thought he was overly aggressive at times. He earned the nickname,"The man with the Golden Arm," since he waved just about everyone home.

Loren
July 23, 2002
We used to play stickball in the streets of Queens during the early sixties, and my inability to hit earned me the "Chuck Cottier" nickname. That guy seemed to hit around .200 all the time but his glove kept him around. But he could hit Whitey Ford's pitches.
When he hit those homers off Ford it made my day.

Mr. Sparkle
January 8, 2003
For some reason I hated this guy. I think his "golden arm" saw a few too many guys get thrown out at the plate so I blamed Cottier. The team was so bad then it was painful and it just seemed right to take it out on him. Looking back it wasn't his fault the Mets were so bad then and I guess he was just being aggressive but just the mention of his name at the time would get me going.

Joseph Passero
June 2, 2005
Chuck Cottier was my favorite player growing up in the 60's when he played for the Washington Senators.

Cody Cottier
January 24, 2007
I am Chuck Cottier's only child, and number one fan. He has more knowledge and insight on the sport of baseball then any other person on this planet. It's an injustice to baseball to not have him working in '07. I love him more than anything. Baseball will be a better sport when he's back in uniform. I love you Dad!!

Joel Crisler
August 5, 2007
Chuck Cottier was hands-down the best manager or coach I ever played for (Quad Cities Angels 1977 and Salinas Angels 1978).

Jim Hartley
August 14, 2007
My favorite Chuck Cottier memory occured on Saturday afternoon, June 9, 1962 at DC (now RFK) Stadium in Washington, DC. Cottier had doubled in the bottom of the 9th inning and scored the tying run on a single by John Schaive. In the 10th inning of a 2-2 game vs. Cottier's former team, the Detroit Tigers, Chuck stood in against right-hander Jerry Casale with a runner on first and one out. He hit Casale's second pitch down the left field line and the ball landed in the bullpen for a game-winning, 2-run homer. Unbelievable! It was truly, one of the rare, glorious moments in the history of the expansion Senators.

Brantley Kuglar
February 3, 2008
I remember as a kid growing up in the beautiful city of Charleston, South Carolina back in 1973. This was the magical year in which professional baseball returned to Charleston. Looking back now, this was a kid's dream come true as the Sally League had some great managers as well as soon to be great players. Well, Charleston was the home of the Charleston Pirates with Chuck Cottier as the manager. Chuck had a roster of some greats on that team including Willie Randolph. Yes, Willie! He also had John Candeleria. The Candy man on the mound! Luke Wrenn was the my brother's favorite as well as my favorite as he played right field.
The league also had Brave Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm as the manager of the Greenwood Braves as well as the Orangeburg Cardinals having Jimmie Piersall! Like I said, it was a Hall of Fame season here! Jimmie Piersall's ace was Tito Landrum who later became a star with St. Louis. The Gastonia Rangers had a little known first baseman by the name of Mike Hargrove. To top it all off, the Charleston Pirates hosted Mickey Mantle Day and Mickey signed pictures for about 150 kids. Yea, you heard right, about 150 kids stayed after the game and chatted with the great Mick.
I could go on and on, but I think I'll say so long. Chuck - Thanks for being a great manager and friend in Charleston back in 1973!
Brantley

Pete
February 3, 2008
The reason Chuck sent so many guys home was because the Mets teams he coached couldn't hit a beachball with an ironing board. If they had even the most remote chance to score a run, Chuck had to send 'em.

Jeff LeGore
April 9, 2010
Chuck, and his wife Laurie, were two of the nicest unassuming people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. We met Chuck because his daughter Cody went to my mother's preschool. They often would invite us to go to games when Chuck was managing the Mariners. I even got to sit in the owner's box on one occasion. Thanks, Chuck, for being a wonderful host and friend to our family.

Beverly Braun Tucker
July 1, 2010
I have to agree with the last comment. I met Chuck because I worked for United Airlines who the teams fly often. And he was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. Chuck, I wish the best for you and your family.

TouShea
July 22, 2020
The one thing about Chuck I remember most came when he was manager of the Mariners in 1985. In a game at Yankee Stadium, he put on an emotional show that would have made Earl Weaver proud. After a loud, lengthy argument with an umpire over a call, he picked up first base and threw it into right field. Cottier got thrown out, but continued his Weaver-like performance by tossing onto the field a few bats, helmets and whatever else he could find in the Seattle dugout. I'd call this the second biggest display of anger I ever saw on a ball field. Only George Brett's reaction in the famous Pine Tar Bat incident two years earlier topped it.
Chuck's actions were mentioned in the newspaper the next day. The article covered all the things of which he assured himself (fine, suspension, etc.) in addition to the ejection. The last one on the list was a spot on This Week in Baseball. I think he got that and everything else, too.

Brent Webber
April 25, 2021
I met Chuck in 1985, he was a coach for the M’s and my dad lived next door to him. My dad always saw him going out golfing and mentioned that his son was a golf pro at a local club in Seattle. He introduced us and we became friends ever since and played golf often in the early years of Seattle Mariners. He and Lauri attended our wedding and Lauri always commented how beautiful that December wedding was. My son played high school and now college ball and Chuck and Lauri never left Seattle, Chuck would come and watch my left handed pitcher son and give him some advice. I was with him the day after he got fired by the M’s, took him golfing and lunch. Life was not without personal tragedy when his and Lauri only child. passed away at a young age. I write this having learned that Chuck had recently passed away at 85, I’m wife and I had made a decision to leave the northwest for Northern California but before I left I called Chuck and had a few good laughs and shared some stories, little did I know that would be the last time I would talk to him. He was always gracious to me and my family and I will miss that.