"Under Coogan's Bluff" Fictional Characters

These fictional characters appear in the short work "Under Coogan's Bluff". Given the structure of the work, most of its fictional characters have been placed on a single page.

Historical figures have been given their own respective pages.

Adilson Bivar

Adilson Bivar was a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels in 2040. He was from São Paulo, Brazil. He was known as a fireballer, i.e. he relied on pitch velocity at the expense of accuracy.

Bilvar and the Angels time traveled to New York in 1905 to play against the Giants. His fairly dark complexion meant that he received many of the same racist insults directed at Keyshawn Fredericks and the African American members of the team.

Bivar pitched in the bottom of the ninth, relieving Keyshawn Fredericks. The Angels won 3-0.

Dave Bowyer

Dave Bowyer was third baseman for the 2040 Los Angeles Angels. Bowyer and the Angels time traveled to New York in 1905 to play against the Giants.

As the Angels warmed-up on game morning, Bowyer played catch with Joshua Kaplan. Kaplan, not used to the gloves used in 1905, dropped the ball on the third throw.

Bowyer was first at bat when the game actually got underway. He had a difficult time adapting to Matty Mathewson's pitching style. While he finally did hit the ball, he was caught out.

Keyshawn Fredericks

Professional baseball player Keyshawn Fredericks time traveled with the Los Angeles Angels from 2040 to the New York of 1905 to play against the Giants. He was a left-hander, which explained his predilection for old science fiction as far as Joshua Kaplan was concerned.

As a black man, Fredericks was the target of racist remarks from 1905 residents, including Giants catcher Roger Bresnahan. During his first turn at bat, Bresnahan taunted Fredricks with a racial slur. Fredericks responded by throwing several fast pitches, nearly beaning Bresnahan in the process. Umpire Hank O'Day intervened, reminding Bresnahan that the future team played Black people. He also ordered Fredericks to stop his pitches, as he'd made his point.

When Fredericks was at bat in the third inning, Giants' pitcher Christy Mathewson hit him in the ribs. Fredericks calmly went to first without looking at Mathews. However, he was got tagged out at second base by Billy Gilbert when Dave Bowyer hit a "fielder's choice."

While pitching in the third inning, Fredericks got his revenge by hitting Mathewson in the buttocks when Mathewson was at bat. Mathewson's trip to first meant nothing; Fredericks struck out Bresnahan next, then George Browne was caught out on a pop fly. Though exhausted, Fredericks was able to keep pitching into the fifth inning.

Kaz Fukushima

Kaz Fukushima was the catcher for the Los Angeles Angels in 2040. He and the Angels time traveled to New York in 1905 to play against the Giants. The race-conscious people of 1905 incorrectly believed him to be a "Chinaman"; Fukushima was Japanese.

On game day, Fukushima was disappointed by the modest protection equipment he received. When pitcher Keyshawn Fredericks nearly hit the loudly racist Roger Bresnahan

Joshua Kaplan

See Joshua Kaplan.

Kees

Kees was an Amsterdam-born member of the Los Angeles Angels in 2040, who time traveled with the team to New York in 1905 to play against the Giants. As he was a white man, the locals had no way to intuitively know that he was a foreigner, unless they meant a foreigner from another time.

Eddie Morales

Eddie Morales was the manager of the Los Angeles Angels in 2040. He time traveled with the team to New York in 1905 to play against the Giants. He made sure the Angels found their hotel and reminded them that the game was the next day at the Polo Grounds.

Pong-ju Pak

Pong-ju Pak played the outfield for the 2040 Los Angeles Angels. He and the Angels time traveled to New York in 1905 to play against the Giants. The race-conscious people of 1905 incorrectly believed him to be a Chinaman. He was actually of Korean descent.

Pak was the fourth batter for the Angels on game day. Thanks to the pitching of Christy Mathewson of the Giants, Pak was also the third out for the Angels in the first inning.

During the bottom of the fifth inning, Pak and Joshua Kaplan were able to double-play, getting out Billy Gilbert and Art Devlin. Devlin was already running, and so deliberately collided with Pak after he was out. Since this was ok in 1905, Pak simply picked himself up and went to the dug-out.

Ralph

Ralph, from Melbourne, Australia, was a member of the Los Angeles Angels in 2040, who time traveled with the team to New York in 1905 to play against the Giants. As he was a white man, the locals limited their insults to his status as an Angel from the future.

Mel Sturgeon

Mel Sturgeon played left field with the 2040 Los Angeles Angels, hitting 48 homeruns during the regular season. He batted left-handed, When the team traveled back to 1905 to play the New York Giants, Sturgeon complained about the bats they were issued. Manager Eddie Morales told the team to square up, and reminded them that homerun record for the Giants in 1905 in was seven.

Sturgeon batted third for the Angels when they began the game at bat. Unlike the prior batters, Dave Bowyer and Joshua Kaplan, the left-handed Sturgeon was able to adapt to Christy Mathewson's pitches, getting a home run, which was also the only run the Angels had for the inning.

At the top of the sixth, Sturgeon was able to score on a single.

Thabo

Thabo was part of the Los Angeles Angels in 2040, and time-traveled with the team back to the year 1905 to play the New York Giants. He was a Black South African; when the team arrived in 1905, he and the African American players were subject to a number of racist insults.