Alexander “Alex” Cole Jr., one of Richmond’s greatest baseball players, died Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, at age 58.

Mr. Cole, a swift, left-handed outfielder who wore glasses on the field, played seven big league seasons with five different franchises.

The George Wythe High School graduate was with Cleveland 1990-91, Pittsburgh in 1992, Colorado in 1993, Minnesota in 1994-1995 and Boston in 1996.

In 573 games at the highest level, he hit .280 with 117 runs batted in, 493 hits, 286 runs and 148 stolen bases, including 40 in his rookie season in Cleveland.

In 1992, Cole played in the same outfield with Barry Bonds on a Pirates team that lost to Atlanta, four wins to three, in the National League Championship Series.

Cole was born in Fayetteville, N.C., where his father, Alex “Fuzzy” Sr., was a standout athlete at Fayetteville State.