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| - In college, Cora played for Vanderbilt University. In June 3, 1985 he was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round. As a member of the Beaumont Golden Gators Cora received national attention when on June 22, 1986 he was stabbed after a game in San Antonio, Texas. Cora, who was had been a first round draft pick, was waiting outside the team bus following the game against the San Antonio Missions at V.J. Keefe Stadium when two men called his name and then assaulted him. He was stabbed once in the stomach and once in the arm. Cora was quickly rushed to the hospital and later made a full recovery after spending six weeks on the disabled list. A man named Jose Puente, 29, was caught at the scene and was later charged with attempted murder. No motive was ever given for the crime.
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| abstract
| - In college, Cora played for Vanderbilt University. In June 3, 1985 he was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round. As a member of the Beaumont Golden Gators Cora received national attention when on June 22, 1986 he was stabbed after a game in San Antonio, Texas. Cora, who was had been a first round draft pick, was waiting outside the team bus following the game against the San Antonio Missions at V.J. Keefe Stadium when two men called his name and then assaulted him. He was stabbed once in the stomach and once in the arm. Cora was quickly rushed to the hospital and later made a full recovery after spending six weeks on the disabled list. A man named Jose Puente, 29, was caught at the scene and was later charged with attempted murder. No motive was ever given for the crime. He debuted in the Major Leagues in April 6, 1987, as a 21 year old rookie. After spending parts of three seasons with the Padres he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1991 where Cora would spend the next four seasons. In April 6, 1995, he signed with the Seattle Mariners where he would enjoy his most productive seasons at bat. He even established a record for a Mariner with a 24 game hitting streak which is also the record for American League switch hitters. In 1997, he was elected to the American League All-Star team and went on to hit .300 with 11 home runs and 54 RBI. Cora, who was nicknamed "Little Joey," was one of the most popular Mariners during his time with the team, and many fans admired the tiny second baseman for his hustle, grit, and good nature. He also endeared himself to the fans when the Mariners' storied 1995 season was ended in game six of the 1995 American League Championship Series by the Cleveland Indians. Cora, like thousands of fans in the Kingdome that day, broke down and wept. The footage of him weeping while the Mariners' then-rookie Alex Rodriguez draped his arm across Cora's shoulder and consoled him was widely replayed throughout the Seattle area. This event was memorialized the following year with a very humorous promotional ad. The sensitivity and emotion Cora displayed made him particularly popular with young women in the Pacific Northwest, who would often hold signs at Mariners' home game saying "Marry me, Joey!" Cora spent most of the 1998 as a Mariner, but with the team falling out of contention he was dealt to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for David Bell, but he barely played due to injuries. He signed a free-agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season, but retired without playing a game.
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