Octavio Victor Rojas, known to Royals fans as “Cookie”, was born March 6, 1939 in Havana, Cuba. Octavio’s mother nicknamed him Cuqui, which is Spanish for charming or adorable. Looking at that face, with his wide rim glasses and full smile, the name is fitting. Naturally, when Octavio started playing baseball in America, the nicknamed got anglicized to Cookie. Cookie’s father, who was a physician, wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. Thankfully, he chose his own path and Royal fans were forever grateful.
Cookie Rojas has led one of the more interesting lives I’ve ever read about in baseball.