Don Cooper, who passed away at age 70, was a former New York Yankees draft pick and pitcher whose most enduring legacy came as a pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox. Though his playing career included stints with the Twins, Blue Jays, and a final season with the Yankees, his major league statistics were modest with a 1-6 record over 44 appearances. Cooper originally signed with the Yankees in 1978 after completing his senior year in college, but it was after retiring as a player that he made his most significant mark on baseball.

Cooper joined the White Sox organization in 1988, beginning his coaching career in the minor leagues before becoming the team’s major league pitching coach in 2002. Over nearly two decades, he cultivated a dominant pitching staff and was integral to the White Sox winning the franchise’s only World Series title in over 100 years during the 2005 postseason. Under his guidance, White Sox pitchers delivered some of baseball’s most memorable performances, including two perfect games by Mark Buehrle and Philip Humber and a no-hitter thrown by Lucas Giolito.

Known for his long-lasting influence on pitching development, Cooper’s tenure with the White Sox lasted 32 seasons until he was let go following the shortened 2020 MLB campaign. During that period, his coaching shaped a rotation that became one of the most formidable in baseball. Besides his coaching duties, he briefly served as Chicago’s interim manager for two games in 2011, although pitching always remained his signature role.

While Cooper’s playing days in Major League Baseball might not have been headline-grabbing, his impact on the sport through coaching was profound. His work with the White Sox pitching staff turned him into a pivotal figure behind the scenes, especially highlighted by the 2005 World Series championship. Tributes from the baseball community and his former teams have marked his passing, illustrating the respect he earned over his decades-long career in baseball.