Don Cooper Passes Away
MLB Trade Rumors • • sports
Key Points:
- Don Cooper, longtime White Sox pitching coach, passed away at the age of 70, having spent 33 seasons with the organization and 18 years as the major league pitching coach.
- Cooper was instrumental in developing the White Sox's successful pitching staffs of the 2000s, including the 2005 World Series champions featuring Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland, and Jose Contreras.
- He played a key role in shaping the careers of numerous pitchers, including future Hall of Famer Chris Sale, who credited Cooper for his development into one of baseball's most dominant starters.
- Before coaching, Cooper pitched in the major leagues from 1981 to 1985, appearing for the Twins, Blue Jays, and Yankees, before beginning his coaching career in 1988 within the White Sox system.
- Cooper served as the White Sox’s full-time pitching coach from 2002 to 2020 and was widely respected for his impact both on and off the field.
