Sports: Dale Cook, 1980, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: June 11, 1980 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

Dale Cook Inks With Phillies

by Pat Price

Dale Cook played in an actual baseball game for the first time in his life at
age six.  Now, it appears that he is to participate in many more.  Last
summer, while playing for the American Legion of Natchitoches, in a Hammond,
La., game, Cook was spotted by the pro scouts.  Cook, 5 feet 11 inches, 172
pounds, must really have enjoyed baseball last year, for during the summer he
played in the Grove Street Leagues, along with the American Legion League in
Natchitoches.  While playing for WSHS, Cook walked away with three no-hitters,
and in the Grove Street Leagues, Cook found it interesting to pitch against a
fellow teammate, and another worthy pitcher, Brent Hubbard, who is now playing
for Northeast Louisiana University.

It was this year that the scouts who spotted him last year came through.  Carl
Loewenstine, scout for the Philadelphia Phillies, contacted Cook personally to
discuss with him the various aspects of pro ball.  It was obvious that Dale
was all for the move when he signed June 6, 1980 with the Phillies for an
undisclosed amount of money.

The entire Cook family has been baseball oriented.  Dale has three older
brothers who also have been very involved in baseball.  Pat Cook, now 23,
pitched in the Colt World Series in 1973 when he was 15 years old playing for
the Pasadena All-Stars.  Therefore, Dale is not unfamiliar with baseball fame.
Not only did Cook's older brothers give him training tips, but his mother also
helped out.

Now, I suppose you could say, Cook is at his all-time peak.  Cook's top
pitching speed of 92 miles per hour puts him side by side with the Phillies'
starting pitcher Steve Carlton, right now.  This ability also won Cook the
honor of being the only "fresh out of high school rookie out of Louisiana to
attend the Phillies Rookie Camp Pioneer League in Helena, Montana.

Cook's reporting date to the Rookie Camp June 10th, and if everything goes
well for Dale, he will report for the Phillies spring training camp in Florida
sometime in February.