Leonard Leslie "King" Cole (April 15, 1886 in Toledo, Iowa – January 6, 1916) was a baseball player in the early twentieth century. He started his baseball career as a pitcher with the Chicago Cubs in 1909. In 1910, he led the National League with a record of 20–4 and helped win a National League Pennant for the Cubs. His 20–4 record is the best winning percentage (.866) for a Cub pitcher in the twentieth century. Cole was traded to Pittsburgh, and then to the New York Yankees. On October 2, 1914, Cole gave up a double to Babe Ruth—Ruth's first hit in the major leagues.
In 1915, Cole was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and died shortly after the end of the 1915 season.
Ring Lardner wrote about Cole in articles for The Sporting News. Lardner compiled the stories into the Alibi Ike stories, making Cole a baseball immortal.
Famous quotes containing the words king and/or cole:
“Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise King born of all England.”
—Thomas Malory (c. 1430–1471)
““Orders to shoot on sight.” I thought he said the bloke was invisible!”
—Lester Cole (1904–1985)