Walker Cooper
Encyclopedia
William Walker Cooper was an American
professional
baseball
player. He was a catcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for six National League
teams from 1940 to 1957. He was known as one of the top catchers in baseball during the 1940s and early 1950s.
, Cooper was a solid defensive catcher as well as a strong hitter, making the National League All-Star
team every year from 1942 to 1950. After being stuck in the Cardinals' talent-rich farm system in the late 1930s, he finally broke in with the team in late 1940
at age 25 (and reportedly complained to umpire Beans Reardon
about the first pitch he saw); but a broken collarbone limited his play to 68 games in 1941
. On August 30 of that year, Cooper caught Lon Warneke
's no-hitter
. In 1942
he batted .281, finishing among the National League's top ten players in slugging, doubles
and triples
as St. Louis won the pennant by two games; brother Mort won the Most Valuable Player Award
. Batting fifth, he hit .286 in the World Series
against the defending champion New York Yankees
, driving in the winning run
in Game 4 and scoring the winning run on Whitey Kurowski
's home run in the ninth inning of the final Game 5; he then picked
Joe Gordon off second base with no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the team earned its first title in eight years.
In 1943
he raised his average to a career-high .318, and was third in the National League in batting and slugging and fifth in RBI, as the Cardinals repeated as league champions; he was runnerup in the Most Valuable Player Award vote to teammate Stan Musial
. In the 1943 World Series
he batted .294 as the clean-up hitter
, but St. Louis lost the rematch with the Yankees
. In 1944
his average dipped only slightly to .317 as the Cardinals won their third straight pennant
, facing the crosstown St. Louis Browns
in the World Series
; again batting cleanup, he hit .318 in the Series and scored the team's first run in the final Game 6, and the Cardinals won another title. World War II
service in the Navy
led him to appear in only four games in 1945
, and before his return the New York Giants
purchased his contract following a salary dispute in January 1946
; the sale by the Cardinals for $175,000 ($ today) was the highest cash-only deal ever to that time; the transactions of Joe Cronin
in and Dizzy Dean
in were larger deals, but also involved other players.
Cooper enjoyed his most productive season at the plate in 1947
, when he hit .305 and compiled career highs in home runs (35), RBI (122), runs
(79), hits
(157) triples (8) and games (140); the Giants set a new major league record with 221 home runs. In that season, Cooper homered in six consecutive games to tie a record set by George Kelly
in . After Leo Durocher
became Giants manager in 1948
, he began revamping the team to emphasize speed, and Cooper was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
in June 1949
after starting the year hitting .211. Three weeks later, on July 6, Cooper became the only catcher in major league history, and one of only eleven players, to have hit 10 or more RBI in a single game; he was 6-for-7, including three home runs and five runs. That year, he also led National League catchers in assists
for the only time in his career. In May 1950
he was traded to the Boston Braves
, where he caught Vern Bickford
's no-hitter
on August 11 of that year. He remained with the Braves through their 1953
move to Milwaukee, batting over .300 in his first two seasons with the club.
Cooper signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates
before the 1954
season but was let go in May after hitting only .200; he was picked up by the Chicago Cubs
, and hit well as a backup catcher and pinch-hitter through 1955
. He then returned to St. Louis to spend his last two seasons as a Cardinal, ending his career in October . After his daughter, Sarah (Miss Missouri 1957), married Cardinals second baseman Don Blasingame
, he noted, "It's time to quit when you've got a daughter old enough to marry a teammate."
, accumulating 1341 hits
in 4702 at bats for a .285 career batting average along with 173 home runs, 812 runs batted in, and a .464 slugging percentage. He led National League catchers three times in range factor
, twice in caught stealing
percentage, and once in assists, finishing with a .977 career fielding percentage
. One of the sport's strongest players in his prime, at the end of his career he ranked among the top five National League catchers in career batting average
(.285), slugging average (.464), home run
s (173) and runs batted in
(812). He also batted .300 over three World Series
with the St. Louis Cardinals
from 1942-44 as the team won two championships, and ranked tenth in National League history in both games (1223) and putout
s (5166) behind the plate when he retired. During his career, he set a record by hitting grand slams
with five different teams (a mark subsequently tied by Dave Kingman
and Dave Winfield
). His .464 slugging average then placed him behind only Roy Campanella
(.500) and Gabby Hartnett
(.489) among players with 1000 National League games as a catcher, and his 173 HRs and 812 RBI put him behind only Campanella (242, 856), Hartnett (236, 1179), and Ernie Lombardi
(190, 990). His older brother, Mort Cooper
, was a National League pitcher
and his teammate for the first few years of his career, and his son-in-law, Don Blasingame
, also was a major leaguer.
the Indianapolis Indians
(1958–59) and Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers
(1961) of the Triple-A American Association
and was a coach
for the 1960
Kansas City Athletics
, before leaving the game.
Walker Cooper died in Scottsdale, Arizona
at age 76.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He was a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for six National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
teams from 1940 to 1957. He was known as one of the top catchers in baseball during the 1940s and early 1950s.
Professional career
A native of Atherton, MissouriJackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
, Cooper was a solid defensive catcher as well as a strong hitter, making the National League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team every year from 1942 to 1950. After being stuck in the Cardinals' talent-rich farm system in the late 1930s, he finally broke in with the team in late 1940
1940 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 59th season in St. Louis, Missouri and 49th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 84-69 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
at age 25 (and reportedly complained to umpire Beans Reardon
Beans Reardon
John Edward "Beans" Reardon was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1926 to 1949.- Early life and career:...
about the first pitch he saw); but a broken collarbone limited his play to 68 games in 1941
1941 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 60th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 50th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 97-56 during the season and finished 2nd in the National League.- Offseason :...
. On August 30 of that year, Cooper caught Lon Warneke
Lon Warneke
Lonnie Warneke , nicknamed the "The Arkansas Hummingbird," was a Major League Baseball player, Major League umpire, county judge, U.S. Military serviceman, and businessman from Montgomery County, Arkansas whose career won-loss record as a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and St...
's no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
. In 1942
1942 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 61st season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 51st season in the National League. The Cardinals went 106-48 during the season and finished first in the National League. In the World Series, they met the New York Yankees...
he batted .281, finishing among the National League's top ten players in slugging, doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
as St. Louis won the pennant by two games; brother Mort won the Most Valuable Player Award
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
. Batting fifth, he hit .286 in the World Series
1942 World Series
The 1942 World Series featured the defending champion New York Yankees against the St. Louis Cardinals, with the Cardinals winning the Series in five games for their first championship since and their fourth overall....
against the defending champion New York Yankees
1942 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 40th season in New York and its 42nd overall. The team finished with a record of 103-51, winning their 13th pennant, finishing 9 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy. The Yankees played home games at Yankee Stadium. In...
, driving in the winning run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in Game 4 and scoring the winning run on Whitey Kurowski
Whitey Kurowski
George John Kurowski was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the St. Louis Cardinals . Kurowski batted and threw right-handed. He debuted on September 23, 1941, and played his final game on October 1, 1949...
's home run in the ninth inning of the final Game 5; he then picked
Pickoff
In baseball, a pickoff is an act by a pitcher or a catcher, throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder can tag out a baserunner who is either leading off or about to begin stealing the next base....
Joe Gordon off second base with no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the team earned its first title in eight years.
In 1943
1943 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 62nd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 52nd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 105-49 during the season and finished 1st in the National League. In the World Series, they met the New York Yankees. They lost the series in 5...
he raised his average to a career-high .318, and was third in the National League in batting and slugging and fifth in RBI, as the Cardinals repeated as league champions; he was runnerup in the Most Valuable Player Award vote to teammate Stan Musial
Stan Musial
Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
. In the 1943 World Series
1943 World Series
The 1943 World Series matched the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the New York Yankees, in a rematch of the 1942 Series. The Yankees won the Series in five games for their tenth championship in 21 seasons. It was Yankees' manager Joe McCarthy's final Series win...
he batted .294 as the clean-up hitter
Batting order (baseball)
The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...
, but St. Louis lost the rematch with the Yankees
1943 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 41st season in New York, and its 43rd season overall. The team finished with a record of 98-56, winning their 14th pennant, finishing 13.5 games ahead of the Washington Senators. Managed by Joe McCarthy, the Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. In the World...
. In 1944
1944 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 63rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 53rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 105-49 during the season and finished 1st in the National League. In the World Series, they met their town rivals, the St. Louis Browns...
his average dipped only slightly to .317 as the Cardinals won their third straight pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
, facing the crosstown St. Louis Browns
1944 St. Louis Browns season
The St. Louis Browns season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Browns finishing first in the American League with a record of 89 wins and 65 losses...
in the World Series
1944 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 4, 1944 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, MissouriGeorge McQuinn hit the Brown's only home run of the series to put his team ahead in the fourth inning, while Denny Galehouse outpitched World Series veteran Mort Cooper to hold on for the win.-Game 2:Thursday, October 5,...
; again batting cleanup, he hit .318 in the Series and scored the team's first run in the final Game 6, and the Cardinals won another title. World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
service in the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
led him to appear in only four games in 1945
1945 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 64th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 54th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 95-59 during the season and finished 2nd in the National League.-Offseason:...
, and before his return the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
purchased his contract following a salary dispute in January 1946
1946 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was a season in American baseball. It was the team's 65th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 55th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 96-58 during the season and finished first in the National League. In the World Series, they won in 7 games over the...
; the sale by the Cardinals for $175,000 ($ today) was the highest cash-only deal ever to that time; the transactions of Joe Cronin
Joe Cronin
Joseph Edward Cronin was a Major League Baseball shortstop and manager.During a 20-year playing career, he played from 1926–45 for three different teams, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Cronin was a major league manager from 1933–47...
in and Dizzy Dean
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
in were larger deals, but also involved other players.
Cooper enjoyed his most productive season at the plate in 1947
1947 New York Giants (MLB) season
- Offseason :* December 19, 1946: Harry Danning was released by the Giants.* Prior to 1947 season: Nick Testa was acquired by the Giants from the Walden Hummingbirds.- Regular season :...
, when he hit .305 and compiled career highs in home runs (35), RBI (122), runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(79), hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(157) triples (8) and games (140); the Giants set a new major league record with 221 home runs. In that season, Cooper homered in six consecutive games to tie a record set by George Kelly
George Kelly (baseball player)
George Lange Kelly , nicknamed "Long George" and "High Pockets", was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He played most of his MLB career for the New York Giants , but also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs , and Brooklyn Dodgers...
in . After Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
became Giants manager in 1948
1948 New York Giants (MLB) season
- Offseason :* November 20, 1947: 1947 minor league draft**Hoyt Wilhelm was drafted by the Giants from the Boston Braves.**Ed Albrecht was drafted from the Giants by the St...
, he began revamping the team to emphasize speed, and Cooper was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in June 1949
1949 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The team finished seventh in the National League with a record of 62-92, 35 games behind the Brooklyn Dodgers.- Notable transactions :...
after starting the year hitting .211. Three weeks later, on July 6, Cooper became the only catcher in major league history, and one of only eleven players, to have hit 10 or more RBI in a single game; he was 6-for-7, including three home runs and five runs. That year, he also led National League catchers in assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
for the only time in his career. In May 1950
1950 Boston Braves season
The 1950 season was the Boston Braves 80th season. During the season, Sam Jethroe became the first black player in the history of the Braves.- Offseason :...
he was traded to the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, where he caught Vern Bickford
Vern Bickford
Vernon Edgell Bickford was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Braves in Boston and Milwaukee , and for the Baltimore Orioles...
's no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
on August 11 of that year. He remained with the Braves through their 1953
1953 Milwaukee Braves season
The Milwaukee Braves season saw the return of Major League Baseball to Milwaukee for the first time since , when the Milwaukee Brewers played before moving to St. Louis and becoming the Browns. With attendance and interest in Boston very low, team owner Lou Perini moved the team to Milwaukee,...
move to Milwaukee, batting over .300 in his first two seasons with the club.
Cooper signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
before the 1954
1954 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* December 1, 1953: Sonny Senerchia was drafted from the Pirates by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1953 minor league draft.- Regular season :During the season, Curt Roberts became the first black player in the history of the Pirates....
season but was let go in May after hitting only .200; he was picked up by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, and hit well as a backup catcher and pinch-hitter through 1955
1955 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 1, 1954: Johnny Klippstein and Jim Willis were traded by the Cubs to the Cincinnati Redlegs for Jim Bolger, Harry Perkowski and Ted Tappe....
. He then returned to St. Louis to spend his last two seasons as a Cardinal, ending his career in October . After his daughter, Sarah (Miss Missouri 1957), married Cardinals second baseman Don Blasingame
Don Blasingame
Don Lee Blasingame was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , Cincinnati Reds , Washington Senators and Kansas City Athletics . Blasingame batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, he noted, "It's time to quit when you've got a daughter old enough to marry a teammate."
Career statistics
In an 18 year career, Cooper played in 1473 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 1341 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 4702 at bats for a .285 career batting average along with 173 home runs, 812 runs batted in, and a .464 slugging percentage. He led National League catchers three times in range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
, twice in caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
percentage, and once in assists, finishing with a .977 career fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. One of the sport's strongest players in his prime, at the end of his career he ranked among the top five National League catchers in career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.285), slugging average (.464), home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (173) and runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(812). He also batted .300 over three World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
from 1942-44 as the team won two championships, and ranked tenth in National League history in both games (1223) and putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s (5166) behind the plate when he retired. During his career, he set a record by hitting grand slams
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
with five different teams (a mark subsequently tied by Dave Kingman
Dave Kingman
David Arthur Kingman , nicknamed "Kong" and "Sky King", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter. The towering 6' 6" Kingman was one of the most feared sluggers of the 1970s and 1980s...
and Dave Winfield
Dave Winfield
David Mark Winfield is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently Executive Vice President/Senior Advisor of the San Diego Padres and an analyst for the ESPN program Baseball Tonight...
). His .464 slugging average then placed him behind only Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella , nicknamed "Campy", was an American baseball player, primarily at the position of catcher, in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball...
(.500) and Gabby Hartnett
Gabby Hartnett
Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played almost his entire career in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago Cubs. Until the career of Johnny Bench, Hartnett was considered the greatest catcher in the history of the National League...
(.489) among players with 1000 National League games as a catcher, and his 173 HRs and 812 RBI put him behind only Campanella (242, 856), Hartnett (236, 1179), and Ernie Lombardi
Ernie Lombardi
Ernesto Natali "Ernie" Lombardi , was a Major League Baseball catcher for the Brooklyn Robins, the Cincinnati Reds, the Boston Braves and the New York Giants during a Hall of Fame career that spanned 17 years, from 1931 to 1947. He had several nicknames, including "Schnozz", "Lumbago", "Bocci",...
(190, 990). His older brother, Mort Cooper
Mort Cooper
Morton Cecil Cooper was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals...
, was a National League pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and his teammate for the first few years of his career, and his son-in-law, Don Blasingame
Don Blasingame
Don Lee Blasingame was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , Cincinnati Reds , Washington Senators and Kansas City Athletics . Blasingame batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, also was a major leaguer.
Managing career
After his playing career, he managedManager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
(1958–59) and Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers
Dallas Rangers
The Dallas Rangers were a high-level minor league baseball team located in Dallas, Texas, from 1958-64. The team was known by the Dallas Rangers name in 1958-59 and 1964 and as the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers from 1960-63...
(1961) of the Triple-A American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
and was a coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the 1960
1960 Kansas City Athletics season
The Kansas City Athletics season involved the A's finishing 8th in the American League with a record of 58 wins and 96 losses.- Offseason :At the 1959 Winter Meetings, Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Joe L. Brown had agreed to trade Dick Groat to the Kansas City Athletics in exchange for Roger...
Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, before leaving the game.
Walker Cooper died in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
at age 76.
External links
- BaseballLibrary - profile and career highlights
- Walker Cooper Looks Back on an All-Star Career, Baseball Digest, June 1990