Ron Cook's career came to an end in 1991, having topped out at AA, but he told his hometown paper, The Port Huron Times Herald he had no regrets.
"It was the chance to be part of a pro sport," Cook told The Times Herald in December 1991. "It wasn't near as far as I wanted to get, but this is something I always hoped I could do."
Cook played all five of his seasons in the Tigers system. He later went on to return home to Michigan - and play the game one more time in a movie.
Cook's career began in 1987, taken by the Tigers in the 23rd round of the draft out of St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, Mich.
Cook started with the Tigers at rookie Bristol. He went 2-3, with a 2.39 ERA. He then moved to single-A Fayetteville for 1988 and went 9-6, with a 3.07 ERA.
"Overall it's going well," Cook told The Times Herald as he started 1989. "I'm throwing a lot of fastballs and working on my change-up. They don't think I'm where I would be with my fastball, but they don't think it's a problem."
Cook played that year and the next at single-A Lakeland. He went 7-5, with a 3.10 ERA there in 31 outings, 13 starts in 1989 and 2-2, with a 1.90 ERA over 43 outings, two starts in 1990. He also saved five.
For 1991, started the year at AA London. But, after three poor relief outings, the Tigers sent him back to Lakeland. Frustrated, Cook went home to Port Huron before ultimately reporting to Lakeland a month later, The Times Herald wrote.
"I'll go down there and give it everything I've got and hopefully prove them wrong," Cook told The Times Herald. "It's baseball and 22 is awful young (to quit)."
Cook got into 29 games, one start, back at Lakeland. He went 3-4, with a 3.30 ERA to end his career.
Years later, Cook got a different kind of call, to work as a baseball playing extra in the movie 61*.
- Port Huron Times Herald, April 1, 1989: Pitchers
- Port Huron Times Herald, June 4, 1991: Cook ends hiatus, returns to minors
- Port Huron Times Herald, Dec. 13, 1991: Cook's career with Tigers is over
- Port Huron Times Herald, Aug. 13, 2000: Cook enjoys brief moment in spotlight
Made the Majors:1,267-33.9%
Never Made Majors:2,473-66.1%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:523
10+ Seasons in the Minors:310
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