Bob Cooney

Bob Cooney pitched 110⅓ innings during a major-league career that included appearances in 28 games. He won one game.

The game he won was scheduled to be played the day after he was given credit for the win.

Robert Daniel Cooney was born in Glens Falls, New York, on July 12, 1907. He was the oldest of three children born to Francis “Frank” and Nan Cooney. Bob was 11 years old when his father, a hotel clerk, died.1 His mother, Nan, worked as an operator in a shirt factory.2

At the age of 14, Cooney was pitching for the Mohican Street Sluggers in Glens Falls. The Sluggers’ players and opponents had to weigh between 90 and 110 pounds.3 Two years later, Cooney’s pitching prowess resulted in his being recruited by St. Mary’s Academy High School, for whom he became a starting pitcher as a freshman.4

During his high-school years Cooney continued to progress, and impress, with his pitching skills while still finding time to excel in bowling.5 He also joined the track team, tackling the broad jump and the high jump.6 In baseball, as a senior Cooney pitched shutouts in both games of the Glens Falls Championship.7

During the summer of 1925, after graduating from St. Mary’s, Cooney joined the semipro Glens Falls Community team. He made his debut on June 21when he was inserted into the lineup in center field.8 He first pitched on June 30 against a strong Schenectady (New York) team. He struck out 10 batters, including six in a row, in a 3-0 victory.9 In spite of several successful outings, many baseball skeptics felt Cooney had not really been tested. That test would come against Ticonderoga. One skeptic commented: “If he emerges from that game in the ninth inning still in the pitcher’s box, and the game has not been altogether a rout for Cooney’s team then … [Cooney] will have proven that he has ability well beyond the ordinary.” Cooney allowed two singles in winning the game 2-0.10

Shortly after the Ticonderoga game, Cooney agreed to pitch for the semipro Warrensburg team on Sundays after Warrensburg offered him more money than he was getting from Glens Falls. In what would prove prophetic, the Glens Falls Post-Star sports editor commented that he was concerned that Cooney would hurt his future in baseball if he pitched too many games too often.11 Cooney finished out the 1925 season pitching for Warrensburg, Glens Falls, and, late in the year, Port Henry, for whom he pitched both games of a doubleheader against Ticonderoga.12

Having accepted a full-ride scholarship offer from Fordham University in New York City, Cooney joined the Fordham Rams varsity team as the number-three starting pitcher for the 1926 college season.13 During his four years at Fordham, Cooney had a 64-18 record with six shutouts. Perhaps his highlight came in 1926 when he struck out 18 batters in a 14-inning game. In 1927 he set the Fordham record with a 0.85 earned-run average.14

During the summer of 1926, after his first season with Fordham, Cooney joined several semipro teams. In early June he pitched two games in three days; first for the YMHA (Glens Falls) and then for the D and H Generals (New York) for a game scheduled against the Boston Black Sox.15 Later, pitching for Hudson Falls (New York), Cooney struck out 16 in a game against Western A.C. of Albany.16 The following week Cooney was pitching for W.K.Y. of Glens Falls.17 On July 3 he pitched for D and H against the Boston Black Sox, shutting them out 1-0.18 On July 6 Cooney pitched a complete game for the Kingston (New York) Colonials.19 While primarily used as a pitcher, Cooney played center field for the Colonials in an August 1 game.20 Two days later he left the Colonials and returned to W.K.Y.21 Then a week later he agreed to pitch for Fair Haven (Vermont) for the balance of the season in addition to continuing to pitch for W.K.Y.22 Instead, he pitched for both Warrensburg23 and Whitehall (New York), throwing two complete games in two days.24

Going into the 1927 Fordham season, a New York Evening Graphic sportswriter wrote: “[Cooney has] a low fastball and a deceptive curve.” The writer went on to write that Cooney had stated he wanted to become a New York Yankee.25 With the finish of the college season, Cooney was expected to join YMHA for the season.26 Instead, he decided to play for Massillon (Ohio),27 where he won his first seven games before losing his last game.28 Once he returned to Glens Falls, the Kingston Colonials requested permission to use Cooney in its game against the Boston Braves.29 In September he joined a local all-star team that was scheduled to play the Braves. While he didn’t start against the Braves, he did pitch seven scoreless innings in relief.30 Then, the day before he was scheduled to return to Fordham, Cooney pitched a game for the semipro Schenectady Police club.31

Cooney was elected captain of the Fordham Rams for his junior season. After again starring for the Rams, in 1928 he joined Otsego Lake (Cooperstown, New York) of the semipro Mohawk Valley League.32 Several teams sought permission to use Cooney in games against major-league teams. Only the D and H Generals were able to obtain his service for a game against the Braves.33 Cooney was the winning pitcher as the Generals beat the Braves 5-3.34 After the game, Braves manager Rogers Hornsby questioned Cooney’s weight and stature but thought that he could make the big leagues “if he set out earnestly to do so.”35

As the 1928 season progressed, Johnny Evers decided to form a strong semipro team in Saratoga, New York with Cooney being the pitcher he wanted.36 However, Evers did not think he could afford the $50 a game Cooney was making with Otsego.37 However, Evers reported shortly that Cooney had agreed to join his Saratoga team.38 There is no evidence that he played for Saratoga. Instead, he stayed with Otsego Lake and led it to the Mohawk Valley League championship.39

Early in 1929, the Cincinnati Reds offered Cooney a contract. He turned it down in favor of completing his senior year at Fordham.40 Immediately after graduation, Cooney signed a contract with the St. Louis Browns. He was assigned to the Class-A Western League Tulsa Oilers.41 In his first appearance for the Oilers, he struck out four in two innings of work.42 Cooney won four games before his first defeat in a July 25 game against the Des Moines Demons.43 He finished the season with an 11-5 record despite missing several games with an injury caused when he was hit while at bat.44 His victories included the game that gave the Oilers their third straight Western League title.45 His losses included what was probably 1929’s weirdest inning. In the second inning of an August 15 game against Des Moines, Cooney gave up two doubles and a triple and hit a batter. The Demons scored one run.46

The Browns transferred Cooney to the Western League Topeka Senators for the 1930 season. He was lauded for both his fielding47 and his pitching after a May 29 game against the St. Joseph Saints in which Saints starting pitcher Dizzy Dean was ejected for getting into a fist fight with two Senators players. Cooney won the game 4-1.48 While not noted for his hitting, Cooney was the offensive star of a September 1 game against St. Joseph when his squeeze bunt drove in the first run. He then scored the winning run in a 2-1 game, and was the winning pitcher.49 Cooney had an 8-4 record after eight weeks.50 He finished the season with a 16-13 record.

The Wichita Falls Spudders of the Texas League became the Browns Class-A affiliate in 1931. In January the Spudders announced the purchase of Cooney’s contract from Topeka.51 By July 1 he had an 11-3 record. His .786 won-lost percentage was tied for league best with the Fort Worth Panthers’ Dick McCabe.52 Compared with modern-day games, Cooney’s August 8 1-0 shutout win against the Panthers was unique. The seven-inning game was played in 59 minutes.53

On September 1 Cooney won his 17th game, against the San Antonio Indians. After the game, Spudders President William E. Hunt announced that Cooney had been sold outright to the St. Louis Browns.54 He made his major-league debut against the Cleveland Indians on September 6. In a 7-5 loss, he gave up 13 hits and walked 7 in seven innings. With the game tied 4-4, he was relieved in the eighth inning after giving up three more runs. A sportswriter observed: “Although he failed to win, he made a more credible showing than some of the Brownie veterans did in the second game.”55 After a September 10 game, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch headlined: “Cooney, Rookie, Stars as Relief Pitcher; Goslin Hits Homer.” In a game against the Philadelphia Athletics, Cooney had relieved in the first inning with the Browns down 4-0. Cooney pitched the final 7⅓ innings for the Browns, giving up two runs on seven hits.56 (The Athletics won, 6-3.)

Perhaps Cooney’s highlight came in a September 19 game against the Yankees. Though he was the losing pitcher in a 3-0 game, he held Babe Ruth to one single in two official at-bats while Lou Gehrig went 0-for-4.57 Cooney finished the season with an 0-3 record after four starts and one relief appearance.

After the season ended, Cooney was invited to join several major-league players in a barnstorming tour. However, he had to return to Glens Falls due to a family illness.58 Shortly after his return home, Cooney was named to the Glens Falls all-star bowling team.59

After his September 1931 audition, the Browns offered Cooney a contract, albeit at a reduced salary, for the 1932 season. He had a successful spring training. At bat, he had a grand slam in one game60 and three hits in another.61 As for his pitching, St. Louis Star and Times writer Sid Keener wrote: “[Cooney] weighs 175 pounds, stands 5 feet 10 inches and is smaller than the average pitcher in the big leagues. However, he zips a wicked curve and has a ‘jump’ to his fast ball.” Keener went on to write that several Browns players, after facing Cooney’s pitches, told manager Bill Killefer that he should “[k]eep your eyes on Cooney.”62 Another writer, Maurice Shevlin of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, after an April 1 spring-training game, wrote: “[Cooney had] a fast ball that slipped across the corners and a tantalizing slow one that drifted across like a summer zephyr.”63

While it was anticipated that Cooney would be one of the Browns’ starting pitchers,64 he opened the 1932 season as a reliever. In a 14-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians on April 24, he pitched 5⅓ innings, giving up just one hit and no runs.65 Four days later, manager Killefer planned to use Cooney as his starter so as not “to take a chance on hurting [Lefty] Stewart’s arm” in the cold weather.66

Cooney did not get a “cold weather” start. Instead, he continued to work out of the bullpen. While generally successful, Cooney’s efforts in a July 2 game against the Chicago White Sox were disastrous when he allowed four runs in two-thirds of an inning.67 As the season progressed, Cooney was frustrated that he wasn’t given a chance to start.68 Finally, after pitching 33⅔ innings in 13 appearances,69 Cooney was called on to start a game originally scheduled for August 1, but rescheduled as the second game of a July 31 doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox. While Killefer had been hesitant to use him as a starter, Cooney took the mound and pitched a 7-3 complete-game win.

It was his only major-league victory.

After the game, St. Louis Star and Times writer Charles “Kid” Regan wrote that Killefer, after carefully watching, felt that Cooney “has promise they little suspected.”70 His promise was tested when he started an August 9 game against the Yankees. Cooney didn’t fare near as well as he had against the Red Sox. In 5⅓ innings, he gave up 10 hits, 7 walks, and 5 runs. He was removed after giving up Babe Ruth’s 32nd home run of the season and walking Lou Gehrig71

After finishing the 1932 season with a 1-2 record, Cooney signed a Browns contract for 1933.72 At the end of spring training, Cooney, slated to be a reliever, headed to St. Louis for the Browns’ opening game, on April 12 against the White Sox. He did not appear in either of the first two games. Then, on April 14, the Browns purchased Ed Wells from the Yankees and optioned Cooney to the Texas League San Antonio Missions.73

Through May 23, Cooney, after 36 innings, had a 1-3 record with a 6.31 ERA for the Missions.74 On June 1 the Texas League Dallas Steers obtained Cooney on option from San Antonio.75 While nursing a “tricky elbow,” Cooney got off to a rough start with the Steers.76 On June 21 Dallas released him.77 He then moved to the Southern Association New Orleans Pelicans.78 After starting a June 25 game against the Atlanta Crackers,79 Cooney was released by the Pelicans on June 30.80 After his release, Cooney went to Rochester, New York, for treatment for his “dead arm.”81

As the 1934 season approached, with his arm feeling good, Cooney was recruited by Boston Braves scout Johnny Evers to pitch for the Harrisburg Senators. The Senators were the Braves’ affiliate in the Class-A New York-Pennsylvania League.82 On June 28 Cooney was the winning pitcher in a 7-6 exhibition win over Boston.83 On July 10, with a record of six wins, including three shutouts, and seven losses, he was released by Harrisburg. He immediately joined the Hazelton Mountaineers of the same league.84 Cooney’s first game with the Mountaineers came on July 11. It also came with pain when the first batter he faced hit a line drive off his knee.85 On July 23 he was released by Hazleton.86 A week later, Cooney was signed by the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the New York-Pennsylvania League.87 Wilkes-Barre used him primarily as a “relief artist and warm-up pitcher” before using him as a starter toward the end of the year.88

Robert Daniel Cooney married Anna Mae Ferguson on October 29, 1934.89 They had no children. Both Cooneys went into the real estate business and continued until their respective deaths.90

Cooney returned to Wilkes-Barre for the 1935 season.91 After a quick start (3-0), he left the Barons due to “financial troubles with management.”92 A week later he signed a contract with the Elmira Pioneers.93 According to the Howe News Bureau, Cooney finished the season going 13-8 with a 4.24 ERA for the Pioneers.94

At the close of a successful 1935 season, Cooney told Post-Star sports editor Don Cunnion that “he hadn’t used for several years the knuckle-ball with which he baffled many a batter back in his youth.” Cunnion commented: “When Bob’s arm developed a kink back in 1932, he tried to pitch it out, with almost fatal results.”95

When Elmira offered Cooney a 1936 contract with a slight reduction in pay, he decided to return the contract unsigned.96 After a brief holdout, he agreed to return to the Pioneers.97 He won his first game, May 2, against the Binghamton Triplets, 4-2,98 despite having to leave the game with an injured finger.99 Elmira released Cooney on May 10,100 and he signed a contract to return to Wilkes-Barre the same day.101 The following day, Cooney pitched a complete game but lost 1-0 to Binghamton.102 In a surprise move eight days later, May 19, he was released by Wilkes-Barre.103 Cooney then signed a contract with the league’s Scranton Miners on May 30.104 He was released by the Miners on June 15.105 Miners manager Elmer Yoter said that Cooney, after his release, went home “because he has a sore arm.”106

With this release, Cooney’s professional baseball career was over. A sore arm, probably caused by overwork in his early years, kept him from an extended major-league career.

Cooney joined his wife, Anna, in working for the real estate company they owned.107 While his sore arm resulted in ending his baseball career, it was good enough to allow him to bowl at a high level.108

With the start of World War II, Cooney registered for the military draft on October 16, 1940.109 He was inducted into the Army on January 9, 1943.110 While on active duty he served in the Pacific.111 He was discharged on October 20, 1945,112 with the rank of sergeant.113

Cooney died on May 4, 1976, following a long illness. He is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery in South Glens Falls, New York.114

In 2007 Cooney was inducted as an honorary member of the Glens Falls Area Baseball Hall of Fame.115 In 2012 he was inducted into the Fordham University Athletics Hall of Fame.116

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted Baseball-Reference.com and Johnson, Lloyd, and Miles Wolff, eds., Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007).

The author is not related to Bob Cooney.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Fordham University.

Notes

1 See New York, US, State Census, 1915, and Obituary – Frank B. Cooney, Glens Falls (New York) Post-Star, January 28, 1919: 5.

2 New York, US, State Census, 1925.

3 “Mohican St. Sluggers Want Baseball Games,” Glens Falls Post-Star, March 17, 1921: 6.

4 “St. Mary’s Lose to Whitehall in Diamond Battle,” Glens Falls Post-Star, May 7, 1923: 6.

5 “Lively Week Is Opening on Park Alley Tonight,” Glens Falls Post-Star, February 24, 1925: 7.

6 “Mohican Track Team Is Looking for Some Meets During Spring,” Glens Falls Post-Star, May 9, 1925: 7.

7 H.S. Did not Score a Run in Series of 1925,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 9, 1936: 6.

8 “Baseball Comment,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 22, 1925: 6.

9 “St. Mary’s Star Shuts Out DORP in First Test,” Glens Falls Post-Star, July 1, 1925: 6.

10 “Yielding 2 Hits and Walking Nobody, Rising Boxman Gets Shut-Out Victory by 2 to 0,” Glens Falls Post-Star, July 20, 1925: 6.

11 “The Observatory,” Glens Falls Post-Star, July 27, 1925: 6.

12 “Port Henry vs. TI,” Glens Falls Post-Star, September 8, 1925: 6.

13 “Cooney Is Starring,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 1, 1926: 7.

14 https://fordhamsports.com/honors/hall-of-fame/bob-cooney/63.

15 “Cooney Pitches Two Games Here in Three Days,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 1, 1926: 6.

16 “Cooney Whiffs 16 as Hudsons Defeat Albany,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 21, 1926: 6.

17 “Cooney Pitches W.K.Y. to Win Over Foreigners,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 28, 1926: 2. 

18 “Year’s Home Star Helps Generals Win,” Glens Falls Post-Star, July 6, 1926: 6.

19 “Cooney Is Sent to Box for Visitors and Wins Job for Himself by Fine Performance,” Glens Falls Post-Star, July 7, 1926: 6.

20 “Shields Bests Atiyeh 2 to 1 at the ‘Burg,’” Glens Falls Post-Star, August 2, 1926: 6.

21 “Post-Star Tries to Bring Chaps Here on Friday,” Glens Falls Post-Star, August 4, 1926: 6.

22 “Cooney May Pitch for Fair Haven Against Chappies Today,” Glens Falls Post-Star, August 10, 1926: 6.

23 “’Burg Invades Corinth Sunday in Grudge Game,” Glens Falls Post-Star, September 4, 1926: 6.

24 “Cooney, Pitching for Whitehall, Beaten by Fair Haven, 10 to 5,” Glens Falls Post-Star, September 13, 1926: 6.

25 “Laudation for Bob Cooney, Local College Mound Star, in Interview by Graphic,” Glens Falls Post-Star, April 22, 1927: 8.

26 “Smart Local Nine Is Aim of Group Now Organizing,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 23, 1927: 8.

27 “Hudson Falls Community Nine Appears at Rec Field – Cooney Lost to Local Ball Teams for the Summer,” Glens Falls Post-Star, July 2, 1927: 8.

28 “Bob Cooney, Crack Local Pitcher, Is Back From the West,” Glens Falls Post-Star, August 22, 1927: 8.

29 “Stone and Cooney Both Named for Pitching Labor,” Glens Falls Post-Star, August 25, 1927: 8.

30 “Bob Cooney Stars as Boston Braves Beaten,” Glens Falls Post-Star, September 8, 1927: 10.

31 “DORP Cops Win Behind Cooney,” Glens Falls Post-Star, September 12, 1927: 8.

32 “Cooney and Stone Doing League Work,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 23, 1928: 8.

33 “Following the Ball with the Sports Editor,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 26, 1928: 8.

34 “Big Leaguers Hit Chutes in View of Record Crowd,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 28, 1928: 8.

35 “Following the Ball, Glens Falls Post-Star, June 28, 1928: 8.

36 “Something New in Baseball World,” Glens Falls Post-Star, July 12, 1928: 8.

37 “Following the Ball,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 29, 1928: 8.

38 “Following the Ball,” Glens Falls Post-Star, July 20, 1928: 8.

39 “Following the Ball,” Glens Falls Post-Star, August 14, 1928: 8.

40 “Bob Cooney Heads Fordham Pitchers,” Glens Falls Post-Star, March 16, 1929:8.

41 George R. Loveys, “The Sports Periscope,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 24, 1929: 8.

42 “Wichita Crew Has the Lead in 3 Battle,” Wichita (Kansas) Evening News, July 12,1929: 5.

43 “Western League,” Wichita Eagle, July 26, 1929: 15.

44 George R. Loveys, “The Sports Periscope,” Glens Falls Post-Star, September 10, 1929: 8.

45 “Cooney Hurls Tulsa to Third Straight Western Loop Title,” Glens Falls Post-Star, September 13, 1929: 9.

46 Sec Taylor, “Demons Wallop Oilers, 10 to 1,” Des Moines Register, August 16, 1929: 11.

47 “Senators Take Game in Eighth,” St. Joseph (Missouri) Gazette, May 30, 1930: 5.

48 “Cooney Pitches Invincible Ball as Kaws Win from St. Joseph by 4 to 1 Score,” Des Moines Register, May 30, 1930: 14.

49 “Saint Errors Cost 2 Games,” St. Joseph Gazette, September 2, 1930: 6.

50 “Bob Cooney Has Won 8 of 12 with Western Loop Team,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 14, 1930: 8.

51 “9 Athletes Obtained Within Week,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram,January 4, 1931: 16.

52 “Buck Stanton Goes into Second Half as Batting Leader,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, July 5, 1934: 13.

53 “Panthers and Spudders Split Double Bill,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 9, 1931: 15.

54 “Spudders Triumph 15-11,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, September 2, 1931: 11.

55 “Indians Annex Two,” Cincinnati Enquirer, September 7, 1931: 35.

56 “Cooney, Rookie, Stars as Relief Pitcher; Goslin Hits Homer,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 10, 1931: 13. Though not confirmed by other accounts, the Post-Dispatch reported that Cooney was even called on to pinch-hit for the Browns in a September 16 17-0 loss to the New York Yankees. “Play by Play of Browns First Game,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 17, 1931: 15.

57 “Browns, Baffled by Pipgras, Lose Another to Yankees, 3 to 0,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 20, 1931: 50.

58 “Bob Cooney Arrives Home as Season Ends,” Glens Falls Post-Star, October 2, 1931: 8.

59 Local Pinners Meet Schenectady Saturday,” Glens Falls Post-Star, October 30, 1931: 9.

60 “Browns get 14 Hits to Trounce Buffalo in Exhibition, 15 to 12,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 22, 1932: 8.

61 “Cooney Checks Bush’s Sluggers with Seven Hits in 6-to-1 Victory,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 2, 1932: 8.

62 “Sid Keener’s Column,” St. Louis Star and Times, March 23, 1932: 18.

63 “Cooney Checks Bush’s Sluggers with Seven Hits in 6-to-1 Victory,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 2, 1932: 8.

64 “Kress Will Be at Third Base, Bettencourt in Right Field,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 8. 1932: 46.

65 “Indians Pound Quartet of Hurlers for 14 Hits and Rout Browns, 14-3,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 25, 1932: 6.

66 “Browns Hurt by Erratic Work Afield,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 27, 1932: 9.

67 “Gray, Cooney and Kimsey Pummeled as Foe Gains First Victory in St. Louis,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 3, 1932: 21.

68 Charles “Kid” Regan, “Cooney Comes to Browns’ Rescue in Hill Shortage,” St. Louis Star and Times, August 1, 1932: 16.

69 “Browns Resume Yankees Series in Game Today,” St. Louis Star and Times, August 9, 1932: 12.

70 Charles “Kid” Regan, “Cooney Comes to Browns’ Rescue in Hill Shortage,” St. Louis Star and Times, August 1, 1932: 16.

71 Martin J. Haley, “Ruth Clouts 32d Homer with Two on Base and Yanks Best Browns, 5-3,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 10, 1932: 8.

72 “Bob Cooney of Browns Signs 1933 Contract,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 20, 1933: 19.

73 “Browns Buy Wells from Yanks, Sending Bob Cooney to Texas,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 15, 1933: 17.

74 “Texas League Averages,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 3, 1933: 9.

75 “Steers Get Outfielder Brickell from Phils,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 4, 1933: 17.

76 Don Cunnion, “The Sports Periscope,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 17, 1933: 8.

77 “Herd Releases Cooney,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 22, 1933: 12.

78 Don Cunnion, “The Sports Periscope,” Glens Falls Post-Star, July 1, 1933: 8.

79 “Atlanta Wins Two,” Shreveport (Louisiana) Times. June 26, 1933: 7.

80 “Pels Release Cooney,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, July 1, 1933.

81 Don Cunnion, “The Sports Periscope,” Glens Falls Post-Star, July 8, 1933: 8.

82 “Cooney Signs with N.Y.-P. Club,” Glens Falls Post-Star, April 20, 1934: 8.

83 “Cooney Hurls Win Over Braves, 7-6,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 29, 1934: 8.

84 “Cooney Is Signed: Wydallis Released,” Hazelton (Pennsylvania) Plain Speaker, July 12, 1934: 15.

85 “Scranton Slugs Ball to Give Hazleton Defeat,” Hazelton Plain Speaker, July 12, 1934: 14.

86 “Simmons Joins Hazelton Club,” Hazelton Plain Speaker, July 24, 1934: 12.

87 “The Talk,” Harrisburg Evening News, July 27, 1934: 11.

88 “Cooney Turns in Fine Job to Trounce Miners,” Wilkes-Barre (Pennsylvania) Record, September 3, 1934: 10.

89 “Miss Ferguson Becomes Bride,” Glens Falls Post-Star, October 30, 1934: 14.

90 Obituary of Robert D. Cooney, Glens Falls Post-Star, May 5, 1976: 16.

91 “Cooney Signs Contract with N.Y.-Penn. Outfit,” Glens Falls Post-Star, April 20, 1934: 20.    

92 “Cooney May Join Elmira Team in NY-P Ball Loop,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 11, 1935: 12.

93 “Bob Cooney Signs with Elmira Club,” Post-Star, June 12, 1935: 6.

94 Don Cunnion, “The Sports Periscope,” Glens Falls Post-Star, December 6, 1935: 18. The 13-8 record appears to include Cooney’s Wilkes-Barre wins. Various Baseball-Reference sites incorrectly give the entire 13-8 record to Wilkes-Barre.

95 Don Cunnion, “The Sports Periscope,” Glens Falls Post-Star, September 18, 1935: 9.

96 “Bob Cooney to Return Elmira Club Contract, Glens Falls Post-Star, March 5, 1938: 8.

97 “Pioneers Obtain Infielder Coyle; Cooney Signed,” Elmira (New York) Star-Gazette, March 21, 1936: 11.

98 Don Cunnion, “The Sports Periscope,” Glens Falls Post-Star, May 5, 1936: 6.

99 “Pioneers Return From Road Trip to Face Barons,” Star-Gazette, May 8, 1936: 24.

100 “Kimball to Make His First Start; Cooney Released,” Elmira Star-Gazette, May 11, 1936: 12.

101 “Jake Pitler Is Feted and Gets Wrist Watch,” Wilkes-Barre Record, May 11, 1936: 16.

102 “Barons Garner 4 Hits from ‘Red’ LaFlamme,” Wilkes-Barre Evening News, May 12, 1936: 35.

103 “Pitler Gets Murphy and 3 Men on Option,” Wilkes-Barre Record, May 20, 1936: 19.

104 “Bob Cooney Signs on Scranton Club,” Glens Falls Post-Star, June 1, 1936: 8.

105 “Baseball News,” Wilkes-Barre Evening News, June 16, 1936: 23.

106 Harry O’Donnell, “Sports Shorts from Around and Here,” Elmira Star-Gazette, July 9, 1936: 23.

107 Obituary of Robert D. Cooney, Glens Falls Post-Star, May 5, 1976, 16.

108 “Norman Hits 259 Single; Cooney Chalks Up 651,” Glens Falls Post-Star, December 21, 1938: 12.

109 US, World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.

110 US, Department of Veteran Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010.

111 Obituary of Robert D. Cooney, Glens Falls Post-Star, May 5, 1976, 16.

112 US, Department of Veteran Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010.

113 “Attends Funeral Services,” Glens Falls Post-Star, August 8, 1944: 6.

114 Obituary of Robert D. Cooney, Glens Falls Post-Star, May 5, 1976, 16.

115 “Five Players Headed to Local Hall,” Glens Falls Post-Star, September 7, 2007: 15.

116 https://fordhamsports.com/honors/hall-of-fame.