TOMMY COOK –1973

He was a 3 year starter in baseball and football and would be a worthy candidate for either sport but his fame really came with his play in baseball. He led the team as a sophomore in hitting (.453) and made All District. The next year he again led the team in hitting (.443) and added team bests in RBI’s (29), SB’s (18), HR’s (4) and posted a 6-3 won/loss record as a pitcher and again made All District. Senior year records are missing but he again made All District. This led to his being drafted in the 12th Round by the St. Louis Cardinals. As a quarterback in football he made the All East Tennessee 2nd Team in 1973 as well as the All Loudon County Team. He signed a full football scholarship to play at Northeast Louisiana University after turning down a baseball signing bonus with the Cardinals. He ended his football career because of injuries and transferred to The University of Tennessee on a full baseball scholarship where his hitting and first base play led to him making the All SEC East team in 1978. He was Honorable Mention, All SEC Academic his last 2 years. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006.