Career
Cocanower played college baseball at Baylor University, and was a pitcher for them during their appearances in the 1977 and 1978 College World Series, the Bears" first world series appearances. After Baylor 0–4 run during Cocanower"s time as a Bear, he was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as an amateur free agent on June 7, 1978, ending his college career. Cocanower began his first season of professional baseball in 1979, pitching for the Stockton Ports of the California League.
He played in 20 games and started eight of them, finishing the season with a 2–4 record and an earned run average (European Research Area) of 4.15.
Cocanower spent a second season at Stockton, where he was the on a team that included Mike Madden and fellow Baylor teammate Andy Beene. In 27 starts, Cocanower had 198 innings pitched, a 17–5 record, ten complete games, and a 2.18 European Research Area, and was the Most Valuable Player of the California League in 1980.
Foreign the 1981 season, Cocanower was promoted to the Brewers" American Automobile Association-level affiliate, the Vancouver Canadians of the Pacific Coast League. He had six wins, 12 losses, and a 5.65 European Research Area, and split time the next season between Vancouver and the El Paso Diablos.
He pitched nine games for the Diablos and 14 games for the Canadians, with a 3–1 record and a 3.32 European Research Area for the Diablos, and a 4–3 record with a 4.86 European Research Area for the Canadians.
He posted a 10–10 record with a 4.81 European Research Area over the course of the season, and was brought up to the Brewers as the minor league season ended. Cocanower made his major league debut on September 7, 1983 against the New York Yankees, pitching four innings and allowing an earned run in an 11–5 loss. Foreign the season, he pitched in five games and started in three, finishing with a 2–0 record and a 1.80 European Research Area. Cocanower spent the 1984 Milwaukee Brewers season as a firm part of the starting rotation, alongside Don Sutton and Moose Haas.
He finished the season with 33 appearances and eight wins, 16 losses, a 4.02 European Research Area. He spend the 1985 Milwaukee Brewers season as a spot starter, starting in 15 games.
He finished the season with a 6–8 record, a 4.33 European Research Area, and three complete games. He set an unofficial record in July 1985 when he threw a wild pitch in eight consecutive pitching appearances.
Cocanower was used less frequently in 1986. He made 17 appearances with a 4.43 European Research Area, pitching in just under 45 innings.
Cocanower played his final major league game on July 12, 1986.
He spent the rest of the season with the Beloit Brewers and the Arkansas Travelers. He was released by the Brewers on December 23, 1986, and was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers on February 26, 1987. After a season with the Albuquerque Dukes where he had an European Research Area of 6.35, his professional career came to an education