Former Mets Coach: Chuck Cottier (1979-1981)

Charles Keith Cottier was born on January 8, 1936 in Delta, Colorado. The four letter college boy was signed as an amateur free agent by the Orioles in 1964. He came up in 1959 with the Milwaukee Braves, making some good connections with two future managers whom he would coach under. The two friends he made were Rookie Joe Torre & catcher Del Crandall.

In his nine year playing career, Cottier also played with the Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, & California Angels. The second baseman was known more for his glove than his bat, hitting .220 lifetime with 19 HRs 63 doubles & 127 RBIs. He was the Senators main second baseman from 1961-1963.

He was named to Joe Torre’s coaching staff in 1979 and served there for three seasons. Cottier was an aggressive third base coach who loved to send runners home, even though they weren’t the quickest group on the base paths. He became known as “the man with the golden arm” and the vision of him waving runners around third base is forever engraved in our Mets memory banks.

After getting fired by the Mets in 1981, he went to Seattle and coached there for three seasons. At the end of the 1984 season he was named Mariners manager replacing his old Team mate Del Crandall. He managed there in 1985, and was fired in May of 1986, getting replaced by Dick Williams. After that he coached the Cubs (1988-1994) Orioles (1995) & Phillies (1997-2000). He then served as an MLB scout until 2007.