Warren Cook
2023 Glenn Carlson Distinguished Service Inductee
Sleepy Eye, MN
Sleepy Eye, MN
Warren was born in rural Sleepy Eye in 1950 and developed a great love for sports at a young age. However, he contracted polio as a three-year-old, which affected his ability to play sports. He also saw limited opportunities to play due to chores on the family farm, but became a batboy for Mulligan in the Twin River League as an 11-year-old. Later in high school, he became the team statistician for Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s football and eventually did some sports writing.
While in college at Southwest Minnesota State University, he worked in the sports information office, and he also reported sports on the campus TV station three times a week. He graduated from SMSU in 1974 with a degree in Speech Communications.
While still in college, he and his uncle, Duke Cook, coached the Mulligan girl's softball team and his two younger sisters, capturing the Teen League championship twice. He also coached his younger brother, Jeff, who was on some of his Leavenworth Jr. Bi-County and Bi-County baseball teams who won six league championships from 1973-80. He coached the Sleepy Eye Legion team in 1978, and after a 5-year hiatus, Warren helped re-start the Sleepy Eye Indians amateur baseball team in 1981. He managed the Indians for two years and served on the board. He was also a member of the Sleepy Eye Jaycees for two years.
Perhaps Warren’s greatest contribution to amateur baseball began in 1980, when he umpired for the first time. He worked 50 games on the bases that year and even worked with his twin brother, Wayne, in the state tournament in Brownton. The two brothers started South Central Umpires in 1990 and Warren served as its president for five years. He worked 16 consecutive state amateur tournaments from 1980 to 1995 and umpired the 1994 Class C Championship game in Arlington with Wayne. Through the years, he has worked virtually every level of baseball from high school, VFW, legion, amateur and small college baseball. He umpired five MSHSL state tournaments and worked the All-Star series in Chaska five times. All in all, he umpired over 3,700 baseball and softball games and officiated over 1,000 basketball games over 40 years.
Warren, along with his brother, Wayne, through their many interactions as umpires with coaches, players and fans, have long been considered by many to be among the greatest ambassadors of amateur baseball in Minnesota.
While in college at Southwest Minnesota State University, he worked in the sports information office, and he also reported sports on the campus TV station three times a week. He graduated from SMSU in 1974 with a degree in Speech Communications.
While still in college, he and his uncle, Duke Cook, coached the Mulligan girl's softball team and his two younger sisters, capturing the Teen League championship twice. He also coached his younger brother, Jeff, who was on some of his Leavenworth Jr. Bi-County and Bi-County baseball teams who won six league championships from 1973-80. He coached the Sleepy Eye Legion team in 1978, and after a 5-year hiatus, Warren helped re-start the Sleepy Eye Indians amateur baseball team in 1981. He managed the Indians for two years and served on the board. He was also a member of the Sleepy Eye Jaycees for two years.
Perhaps Warren’s greatest contribution to amateur baseball began in 1980, when he umpired for the first time. He worked 50 games on the bases that year and even worked with his twin brother, Wayne, in the state tournament in Brownton. The two brothers started South Central Umpires in 1990 and Warren served as its president for five years. He worked 16 consecutive state amateur tournaments from 1980 to 1995 and umpired the 1994 Class C Championship game in Arlington with Wayne. Through the years, he has worked virtually every level of baseball from high school, VFW, legion, amateur and small college baseball. He umpired five MSHSL state tournaments and worked the All-Star series in Chaska five times. All in all, he umpired over 3,700 baseball and softball games and officiated over 1,000 basketball games over 40 years.
Warren, along with his brother, Wayne, through their many interactions as umpires with coaches, players and fans, have long been considered by many to be among the greatest ambassadors of amateur baseball in Minnesota.