Cook and Gilhooley Named IL Hall of Famers
Published on January 29, 2008 under International League (IL1)
Toledo Mud Hens News Release
The Toledo Mud Hens are pleased to announce that Gene Cook and Frank Gilhooley Sr. will be inducted in to the International League Hall of Fame as members of the class of 2008.
The IL Hall has been dormant since 1964. This year the formal revival of the International League Hall of Fame will be highlighted by the largest induction class in history.
The International League plans to enshrine members of the new Class in a series of inductions held throughout the League's ballparks during the course of the 2008 season. Each ceremony will give fans an opportunity to see the official International League Hall-of-Fame display. The display includes an exact replica of the original IL Hall of Fame plaque, listing all 51 members inducted from 1947-1963, alongside a new plaque that will feature the names from the Classes of 2007, 2008, and beyond. The IL Hall of Fame Display will not have a permanent home, but rather serve as a traveling testament to the storied legacy of the International League.
*The date for the induction ceremony in Toledo will be announced at a later date.
Profiles of the two Toledo members of the class of 2008:
GENE COOK
Born January 11, 1932 in Greenfield, TN
Died February 14, 2002 in Toledo, OH
NOTES: General Manager, Toledo Mud Hens, 1978-1998
Executive Vice-President, Toledo Mud Hens, 1998-2002
International League Executive of the Year - 1980
Made General Manager in 1978, Gene Cook saw the team's attendance rise from an average of less than 100,000 per year before his arrival to consistently over 300,000 annually. He did it with promotions. USA Today Baseball Weekly said that Cook "accomplished one of the great public relations moves in the history of Minor League Baseball" when he enlisted Toledoan Jamie Farr's M*A*S*H character Max Klinger to incorporate support for the Mud Hens in the popular television show. This made the already well-known Mud Hens "a household name around the world."
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE - 2008
He may have given the team an even bigger boost in popularity when he led the way for their return to downtown Toledo. Gene Cook had the vision that the future growth of professional baseball in Toledo depended on a new downtown ballpark. He worked to make it happen, and it did. Indications are, after the early years of success, that this may have been his best promotion of all.
Cook had many accomplishments, of which his career with the Mud Hens was just one. He won nine varsity letters at the
University of Toledo and continued afterwards with a short career in professional football. In Toledo city government, he won election to City Council 15 times and served in many leadership roles. He had a successful business career. Most importantly, he is remembered as a friend, husband, father, and grandfather.
FRANK "FLASH" GILHOOLEY (OF)
Full Name Frank Patrick Gilhooley
Born June 10, 1892 in Toledo, OH
Died July 11, 1959 in Toledo, OH
Bats/Throws Left/Right
Height 5'8"
Weight 155
NOTES: Led the IL in hits in 1922 (230)
Led the IL in stolen bases in 1914 (62) and 1915 (53)
Member of Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame (1988)
Played for 1915 and 1926 Pennant Winners
Frank Gilhooley began playing professional baseball at the age of 17 with Saginaw of the Southern Michigan League in 1910. At 5'8", 155 pounds he was fast enough to be called "Flash". Gilhooley became an accomplished base stealer, winning promotion to the National League when he was only 19.
During his 20 year career, he played in only 312 big league games. He first appeared in the IL with Montreal in 1913. With Buffalo the next two years, he won back-to-back stolen base crowns, which earned him another try at the majors.
Flash returned to the IL to stay in 1920. He collected 200 hits four times, including a League-leading 230 for Reading in 1922. In 13 IL seasons, Gilhooley hit above .300 11 times. Familiar to fans throughout the IL as a fine player with big league credentials, Flash gave continuity and quality to baseball's senior minor league.
From Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame plaque: Outstanding centerfielder, hitter and base stealer for Bisons - 1914, 1915, 1920 and 1921. Batted .310, .322, .343 and .314 and stole 62, 53, 45 and 55 bases. Twice led League in stolen bases. Is All-Time Bison leader in stolen bases (215). Played professionally 20 seasons, nine of them in Majors. Played with six International League clubs. (Research done since 1988 discovered Gilhooley is 2nd on Buffalo's all-time SB list).
International League Stories from January 29, 2008
- Chiefs to hold Induction Weekend - Syracuse Mets
- Easter, Tucker Among Five Bisons to be Inducted to IL Hall of Fame - Buffalo Bisons
- Former Tribe MVP inducted into IL Hall of Fame - Indianapolis Indians
- Cook and Gilhooley Named IL Hall of Famers - Toledo Mud Hens
- Rosenfield, Verdi Inducted Into Hall Of Fame - Norfolk Tides
- International League Announces 2008 Hall Of Fame Class - IL1
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