Marvin Cole relaxed over 12 seasons: Baseball Profiles

Between injuries and playing time in 1989, Marvin Cole admitted to his hometown Alexandria Town Talk later that he pressed himself too hard.

But he hoped his 1990 season to be different, Cole told The Town Talk.

"I never could relax," Cole told The Town Talk of his 1989 campaign. "I've learned to relax more. That's my game. If you press, you become too mechanical."

Cole played the previous season at single-A Charleston, got into 76 games and hit .234. He played 1990 at single-A Peoria, but could do little better. He played one more season in affiliated ball, then went on to a career on the independent circuit, including seven seasons with his hometown Alexandria Aces.

Cole's career began in 1988, taken by the Cubs in the 42nd round of the draft out of Alexandria High School in Louisiana.

Cole started with the Cubs at rookie Wytheville. In 51 games there, he hit .315. He then moved to Charleston and then to Peoria.

Back spasms delayed his arrival at Peoria. He hit .250 over 60 games. He knocked a late two-run single in a July game to put his team on top.

Cole played 1991 at Winston-Salem. He hit an RBI double in a May win and hit .272 over his 86 games there. But that season turned out to be his last with the Cubs and in affiliated ball.

Cole then settled in Denver, but then heard about the new independent Alexandria Aces in the Texas-Louisiana league, he told The Town Talk. He returned home, got himself in shape and got signed.

Upon signing Cole, Alexandria manager Pete Falcone offered praise to The Town Talk.

"I liked the way he handled himself in the field. He has smooth, soft hands. He hit good to all fields," Falcone told The Town Talk.

Cole hit .331 in 72 games his first year there, then .299 in 97 games his second and made the league all-star team.

Cole then continued with Alexandria through the 2000 season. He hit .296 in 104 games his final year there. He played 2001 with Springfield/Ozark. He hit .285 in 95 games there to end his career.

• Alexandria Town Talk, March 29, 1990: Former ASH standout Cole having back problems
• Alexandria Town Talk, April 20, 1994: Aces sign 2 local players

More: The 1990 Peoria Chiefs

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,222
Made the Majors:1,163-36.1%
Never Made Majors:2,059-63.9%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 482
10+ Seasons in the Minors:284-X