Ensign Cottrell

Cottrell was born in Hoosick Falls, New York, the son of William Cottrell and Lottie Worthington Cottrell.[1] He graduated from Hoosick Falls High School before moving on to Syracuse University in 1907, where he played on the baseball team for three years.[2][1] He served as the team's captain his senior year,[3] and threw a no-hitter in his final collegiate game against Columbia on June 13, 1911.[4][1] He also earned a degree in civil engineering.[1]

Cottrell, a left-handed pitcher, was recommended to Pittsburgh Pirates scout Howard Earl, and after pitcher Deacon Phillippe and scout Billy Murray saw him play,[4] he was signed by Pittsburgh on June 10, 1911, after drawing interest from multiple major league teams, including the Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants.[2][1]

He made his National League debut with the Pirates on June 21 against the Chicago Cubs, entering in the seventh inning with Pittsburgh trailing 7-1. He allowed four hits and four earned runs, with the Pirates ultimately losing 14-1.[5] Pittsburgh released Cottrell in late August, having only pitched in one game, after club management felt he was not experienced enough to stay with the team.[3][1]

After his release, Cottrell joined the Scranton Miners of the New York State League for the remainder of 1911,[6] and resigned with the club for 1912.[7]

During the 1912 season, he was claimed by both the Washington Senators and Chicago Cubs,[8] with the Cubs earning the rights to his contract. He made what would be his only appearance with Chicago in the second game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds on September 27, 1912.[9] Cottrell entered the game in the fourth inning and allowed four earned runs, as the Cubs lost 10-3. He recorded his first major league strikeout in the outing, his sole appearance for Chicago.[10]

In November 1912, the Philadelphia Athletics put in a waiver claim on Cottrell,[11] after he was mistakenly included on a list of players the Cubs had waived.[1] He was signed by Philadelphia in January 1913.[12]

He would only appear in two games all season, pitching 1.0 inning on April 23 against the New York Yankees, and throwing a complete game on June 5 against the Detroit Tigers, winning 10-6. He also hit a bases loaded double in the sixth inning,[13] driving in three runs in what would be his only major league hit.[14]

On June 17, he was sold to the Baltimore Orioles of the International League.[15][16] He finished the year with a 14-8 win–loss record in 32 games with Baltimore.[17] He remained with the Orioles for the start of the 1914 season, going 13-7 with a 2.40 earned run average in 26 games,[18] before he was sold to the Boston Braves on July 28.[19] Cottrell would appear in only one game with Boston, earning the start against the Pirates on August 7.[20] He threw just 1.2 innings, allowed two hits and two runs, one of which was earned, and walked three batters as the losing pitcher in the 5-1 loss to Pittsburgh.[21] Though Boston would ultimately win the 1914 World Series against the Athletics, Cottrell would only receive $500 of the winner's share, as both he Billy Martin, who also only appeared in one game all season, were denied full shares by the rest of the team.[22]

In April 1915, he was placed on waivers by Boston due to a limit of 21-players per roster and sold to the New York Yankees after all other National League clubs passed on him.[23][24] Cottrell made his Yankees debut on May 27 against the Chicago White Sox, pitching 6.1 innings in relief while allowing two earned runs in an 8-2 loss. After pitching in three games in June and three more in July, Cottrell was waived to the Richmond Climbers.[25][26] He finished the 1915 season with a 7-11 record in 20 games for Richmond.[27]

Cottrell's rights were sold back to the Yankees, but he retired in 1916 to pursue an engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[28][1] In August 1917, he married Evelyn Taylor and had three children.[1]

After his retirement from professional baseball, he pitched for an industrial team in Auburn, New York in 1918.[29]

Cottrell later operated an engineering and surveying business in Syracuse.[30] He died on February 27, 1947 in Syracuse of a cerebral hemorrhage.[31][1]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)