Don Cooper, the longtime White Sox pitching coach whose name became closely linked to one of the best stretches in club pitching history, has died at age 70.
Cooper spent more than two decades in the organization and served as the White Sox pitching coach from July of 2002 through the 2020 season. He replaced Nardi Contreras in the job and remained in place through a run that included the 2005 World Series title, as well as several individual pitching milestones.
A defining figure in White Sox pitching history
Before he became a coach, Cooper was a former MLB pitcher. His path with the White Sox began in 1988, when he joined the organization and started coaching with the club’s Single-A affiliate.
Once he reached the major-league staff in July of 2002, Cooper oversaw a period that produced notable seasons from several pitchers. Esteban Loaiza finished second in Cy Young voting in 2003. The 2005 White Sox then won the World Series with a dominant starting rotation, and Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras, John Garland and Freddy Garcia closed out the American League Championship Series with four straight complete games.
Cooper’s run also included individual highlights from pitchers who worked under him. Mark Buehrle threw a no-hitter in 2007 and a perfect game in 2009, while Phillip Humber threw a perfect game in 2012.
End of an era
Cooper remained the White Sox pitching coach through the shortened 2020 season before being fired alongside Rick Renteria. His death at 70 closes the book on a long baseball career that stretched from his playing days with the Twins in 1981 to a lasting place in White Sox history.
