| Eric Cooper | |
|---|---|
 Cooper in 2007 | |
| Born: December 18, 1966 Des Moines, Iowa | |
| Died: October 20, 2019 (aged 52) Urbandale, Iowa | |
| debut | |
| June 17, 1996 | |
| Last appearance | |
| October 7, 2019 | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Special Assignments
|
Eric Richard Cooper (December 18, 1966 – October 20, 2019) was an American professional baseball umpire, whose Major League Baseball (MLB) career spanned 1999 until his death in October 2019. [1] He wore umpire uniform number 56. As a Major League umpire, Cooper officiated in ten Division Series, four League Championship Series, three Wild Card Games, one All-Star Game, and one World Series. [1]
Early career
Cooper graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in transportation logistics. [2] He then attended the Joe Brinkman Umpire School, and spent several years as a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) umpire, [3] working in the Appalachian League (1990), Midwest League (1991), Florida State League (1992), Eastern League (1993–94), American Association (1995–97) and Pacific Coast League (1998). [2]
MLB career
Cooper became a permanent Major League Baseball umpire beginning in 1999. He worked the Division Series ( 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019), the League Championship Series ( 2004, 2015, 2016, 2017), the Major League Baseball Wild Card Game ( 2015 and 2016, 2017), the 2014 World Series, and the 2005 All-Star Game. Cooper also worked the World Baseball Classic in 2009 and 2013. [2]
Cooper was the home plate umpire for Hideo Nomo's no-hitter in 2001, and for Mark Buehrle's no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on April 18, 2007. [4] Cooper was also behind the plate for Buehrle's subsequent perfect game, thrown in 2009. Cooper joined Ed Vargo as umpires who had called balls and strikes for two no-hitters by the same pitcher. At the time of Cooper’s death, he was one of only eight active major league umpires who have worked behind the plate for multiple no-hitters (the others being Jeff Kellogg, Ed Hickox, Ted Barrett, Adrian Johnson, Ron Kulpa, Brian Knight, and Greg Gibson). [2]
Cooper was the plate umpire for the game on September 11, 2008, in which Francisco Rodriguez tied the major league single-season save record. Cooper was struck by a foul ball during the game, but was able to continue after a brief pause. [5] Cooper was also the third base umpire in the last game played at the old Yankee Stadium in 2008. [6]
Cooper worked his final game on October 7, 2019, in the 2019 American League Division Series. [7]
Personal life
Cooper was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He was married to Tara Cooper and had two children. [8]
Death
On October 20, 2019, Cooper's death was announced by Major League Baseball; [9] he died after developing a blood clot following knee surgery the week prior. [10] On October 22, prior to Game 1 of the World Series, there was a moment of silence in memory of Cooper. [11]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Eric Cooper". Retrosheet. retrosheet.org. 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Umpires: Eric Cooper - 56". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ Pradhan, Shagun (October 18, 2011). "ISU graduate makes his way to Major League umpiring". iowastatedaily.com. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State Daily. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ "Rangers vs. White Sox - Game Recap - Buehrle hurls no-hitter to lead ChiSox over Rangers". ESPN.com. ESPN. April 18, 2007. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Rodriguez ties saves record in win over Mariners". KIMA TV. Associated Press. September 11, 2008. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 7, Baltimore Orioles 3". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. September 21, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ "MLB umpire Eric Cooper dies at 52". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ "Eric Cooper, Umpire in Yankees-Twins Series, Dies at 52". The New York Times. October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ^ Birch, Tommy (October 20, 2019). "Iowa native, veteran MLB umpire Eric Cooper dead at 52". desmoinesregister.com. Des Moines, Iowa: Des Moines Register. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ "Eric Cooper, MLB umpire for 21 years, dies at 52". ESPN.com. ESPN. Associated Press. October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ "Moment of Silence for Eric Cooper". MLB. October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
External links
- Career statistics and umpire information from MLB, or The Baseball Cube, or Retrosheet
- Eric Cooper at Find a Grave
| Eric Cooper | |
|---|---|
|
Cooper in 2007 | |
| Born: December 18, 1966 Des Moines, Iowa | |
| Died: October 20, 2019 (aged 52) Urbandale, Iowa | |
| debut | |
| June 17, 1996 | |
| Last appearance | |
| October 7, 2019 | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Special Assignments
|
Eric Richard Cooper (December 18, 1966 – October 20, 2019) was an American professional baseball umpire, whose Major League Baseball (MLB) career spanned 1999 until his death in October 2019. [1] He wore umpire uniform number 56. As a Major League umpire, Cooper officiated in ten Division Series, four League Championship Series, three Wild Card Games, one All-Star Game, and one World Series. [1]
Early career
Cooper graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in transportation logistics. [2] He then attended the Joe Brinkman Umpire School, and spent several years as a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) umpire, [3] working in the Appalachian League (1990), Midwest League (1991), Florida State League (1992), Eastern League (1993–94), American Association (1995–97) and Pacific Coast League (1998). [2]
MLB career
Cooper became a permanent Major League Baseball umpire beginning in 1999. He worked the Division Series ( 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019), the League Championship Series ( 2004, 2015, 2016, 2017), the Major League Baseball Wild Card Game ( 2015 and 2016, 2017), the 2014 World Series, and the 2005 All-Star Game. Cooper also worked the World Baseball Classic in 2009 and 2013. [2]
Cooper was the home plate umpire for Hideo Nomo's no-hitter in 2001, and for Mark Buehrle's no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on April 18, 2007. [4] Cooper was also behind the plate for Buehrle's subsequent perfect game, thrown in 2009. Cooper joined Ed Vargo as umpires who had called balls and strikes for two no-hitters by the same pitcher. At the time of Cooper’s death, he was one of only eight active major league umpires who have worked behind the plate for multiple no-hitters (the others being Jeff Kellogg, Ed Hickox, Ted Barrett, Adrian Johnson, Ron Kulpa, Brian Knight, and Greg Gibson). [2]
Cooper was the plate umpire for the game on September 11, 2008, in which Francisco Rodriguez tied the major league single-season save record. Cooper was struck by a foul ball during the game, but was able to continue after a brief pause. [5] Cooper was also the third base umpire in the last game played at the old Yankee Stadium in 2008. [6]
Cooper worked his final game on October 7, 2019, in the 2019 American League Division Series. [7]
Personal life
Cooper was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He was married to Tara Cooper and had two children. [8]
Death
On October 20, 2019, Cooper's death was announced by Major League Baseball; [9] he died after developing a blood clot following knee surgery the week prior. [10] On October 22, prior to Game 1 of the World Series, there was a moment of silence in memory of Cooper. [11]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Eric Cooper". Retrosheet. retrosheet.org. 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Umpires: Eric Cooper - 56". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ Pradhan, Shagun (October 18, 2011). "ISU graduate makes his way to Major League umpiring". iowastatedaily.com. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State Daily. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ "Rangers vs. White Sox - Game Recap - Buehrle hurls no-hitter to lead ChiSox over Rangers". ESPN.com. ESPN. April 18, 2007. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Rodriguez ties saves record in win over Mariners". KIMA TV. Associated Press. September 11, 2008. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 7, Baltimore Orioles 3". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet. September 21, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ "MLB umpire Eric Cooper dies at 52". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ "Eric Cooper, Umpire in Yankees-Twins Series, Dies at 52". The New York Times. October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ^ Birch, Tommy (October 20, 2019). "Iowa native, veteran MLB umpire Eric Cooper dead at 52". desmoinesregister.com. Des Moines, Iowa: Des Moines Register. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ "Eric Cooper, MLB umpire for 21 years, dies at 52". ESPN.com. ESPN. Associated Press. October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ "Moment of Silence for Eric Cooper". MLB. October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
External links
- Career statistics and umpire information from MLB, or The Baseball Cube, or Retrosheet
- Eric Cooper at Find a Grave