Stanford: Three More Football-Baseball Stars

Earlier this spring, we showcased John Elway, John Lynch and other Stanford quarterbacks who starred in baseball as well.

We now present another installment in the multi-part series on Stanford football-baseball greats, featuring two of the best outfielders in Stanford history, and the only player to earn four letters in football and baseball on The Farm.

Turn the page to learn more.

Larry Reynolds, 1976-79

Larry Reynolds was one of Stanford’s best baseball players. He played shortstop and center field and was the Pac-10 MVP in 1977 and second-team All American in 1978.

For his career, he hit .325. He remains Stanford’s all-time steals leader with 131 stolen bases and ranks fifth with 300 career hits. 

In football, Reynolds was a four-year letterman at defensive back under coaches Jack Christiansen and Bill Walsh, and also returned punts and kickoffs.  He played in the 1977 Sun Bowl and 1987 Bluebonnet Bowl. 

After graduation, he was drafted in the fourth round by the Rangers and spent five years in the minors, hitting .350 at Class AA before injuries ended his career.

The older brother of Mariners’ All-Star second baseman and TV commentator Harold Reynolds, Larry is a sports agent whose clients include Justin and B.J. Upton, Torii Hunter, Javy Guerra and Alexi Ogando.

Mike Dotterer, 1979-82

Among all the legendary football-baseball stars at Stanford, including John Elway, Toby Gerhart and John Lynch, the only Stanford athlete to earn four letters in football and baseball is Mike Dotterer.  

He was a bruising running back on the John Elway-led teams, setting a school freshman record with eight touchdowns in 1979. 

As a senior in 1982, Dotterer led the team in rushing, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and scoring eight touchdowns on what was perhaps Stanford’s most electrifying offense in the pre-Andrew Luck era. 

Dotterer also returned kicks and remains the Cardinal’s single-game record-holder with 201 return yards against ASU in 1981. For his career, he rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and scored 15 touchdowns.

He was even better as a four-year letterman in the outfield and at the plate.  He hit .381 in 1981 and was a second-team All-American and All-Pac-10 in 1982 when he hit .359 and helped lead Stanford to the College World Series.

Dotterer still ranks in Stanford’s top 10 in hits, runs, steals and triples, and compiled a career batting average of .340.

Drafted by the Yankees in 1979 out of high school and again in 1983, Dotterer instead opted for the NFL, where he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders. He was on the Raiders roster for two seasons before a knee injury ended his professional career.

Toi Cook 1984-87

Toi Cook arrived at Stanford in 1983 after an All-CIF career in football and baseball in Canoga Park, Calif. He played both sports with distinction on The Farm. 

In baseball, the speedy Cook was an All-Pac-10 center fielder on Stanford’s 1986 team and starred on the 1987 NCAA championship team. In the College World Series title game against Oklahoma State, Cook had three hits, a pair of steals and scored three times in the Cardinal’s 9-5 victory. 

Cook ranks among the top 10 at Stanford for career steals and single-season runs scored and steals. 

In football, the 5’11” Cook starred at defensive back for coach Jack Elway, leading the team in interceptions in 1984-86. His 16 career interceptions are second all time for the Cardinal. 

He played in the 1986 Gator Bowl, and although drafted by the Minnesota Twins, he chose the NFL. An eighth-round pick by the Saints, he was a starting cornerback for New Orleans for seven seasons and had an 11-year career for the Saints, Niners and Panthers, with 20 interceptions, two for touchdowns.