Beloved World Series-winning coach dies at 70

Cooper spent 32 seasons as part of the White Sox organization. He became pitching coach in 2002, and was regarded as one of the best pitching coaches in the game throughout his tenure. Notably, he filled that role on the 2005 World Series winners, a team that was remembered for its dominant pitching throughout the postseason.

Such was Cooper’s importance to the organization that he was retained by subsequent managers even after Ozzie Guillen’s 2011 departure. The White Sox dismissed him after the 2020 season.

A native of New York, Cooper also appeared in 44 MLB games as a pitcher between 1981 and 1985.