A coaching career defined by success
Don Cooper, the former White Sox pitching coach who guided the 2005 rotation to a World Series title, has died at 70, the team confirmed. Cooper began his coaching career in the White Sox organization as a Single-A pitching coach in 1988, but a mid-year promotion to the major-league staff in 2002 launched one of the most productive coaching runs in franchise history. He remained in the role until he was fired alongside manager Rick Renteria after the 2020 season.[S1]
Cooper's tenure was marked by numerous pitching achievements. In 2003, Esteban Loaiza finished second in Cy Young voting. Chris Sale made five consecutive All-Star appearances with the White Sox, and Mark Buehrle reached the peak of his career, throwing a no-hitter in 2007 and a perfect game in 2009. In the 2005 American League Championship Series, Buehrle, Jose Contreras, Jon Garland, and Freddy Garcia closed out the series with four straight complete games, a feat no MLB team had accomplished in the postseason since 1928 and none have matched since.[S1]
Players and colleagues remember his impact
Former White Sox executive Ken Williams said he will always believe Cooper to be one of the best pitching coaches the game has seen, pointing to the 2005 playoff pitching performances as evidence that will never be matched. Paul Konerko said the news was not what he wanted to wake up to and that he cannot think about his time with the White Sox without Cooper being involved. A.J. Pierzynski credited Cooper with fixing Jose Contreras, helping Mark Buehrle become a borderline Hall-of-Famer, improving Jon Garland, extending Brandon McCarthy's career, aiding Freddy Garcia, and fixing Bobby Jenks, Cliff Politte, and Neal Cotts, among many others on and off the field.[S1]
Sox general manager Chris Getz said the guys loved him and that when pitchers reflect on their careers, they remember how he made them feel. As pitching instruction evolved, Cooper's greatest strength remained instilling confidence in his players. At his peak, pitchers like Jose Quintana, Matt Thornton, and Gavin Floyd rose from obscurity to success, and a popular adage among White Sox fans became Coop'll fix 'em for every new pitching addition. Broadcaster Steve Stone said Cooper seemed part of the fabric of the Chicago White Sox and that we will never see the likes of him again.[S1]
