Overview
- Cooper died peacefully at his home in Brentwood, Tennessee, on Tuesday, Sept. 22, his family said and the Chicago White Sox confirmed; the family has not disclosed a cause and funeral arrangements are pending.
- He spent 33 seasons in the White Sox organization and served 18 full seasons as the club’s major-league pitching coach, making him the longest-tenured pitching coach in baseball when he left the team after the 2020 season.
- Cooper is widely credited with building the rotation that powered Chicago’s 2005 World Series run, including a stretch in the ALCS when four starters threw consecutive complete games and the club went 11–1 in the postseason.
- Many pitchers credit Cooper with key development and confidence-building that helped careers flourish, including Mark Buehrle’s no-hitter and perfect game, Philip Humber’s perfect game, and the rise of Chris Sale, Lucas Giolito and others.
- Tributes have poured in from former players, managers and the club, who praised his old-school style and personal mentorship, and the organization now faces the near-term task of honoring his legacy while finalizing memorial plans.