Anthony Cooper

Anthony Elbert Cooper
(Ant, Tony)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 5", Weight 162 lb.

• Debut 1928
• Final Game 1941
• Born July 20, 1904 in Arkadelphia, AR USA
• Died October, 1979 in Schenectady, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Anthony Cooper played in three decades. His brother Darltie Cooper also played.

Cooper debuted in 1928, backing up Chuffie Alexander in left field with the Birmingham Black Barons. He hit .213/.237/.268. The next year, he became Birmingham's most-used shortstop and also saw time with the Memphis Red Sox; he hit .281/.296/.338 (73 OPS+). He slumped to .219/.242/.330 (55 OPS+) for the 1930 Birmingham Black Barons, starting at short again; his 16 sacrifice hits tied Charlie Williams for the lead in the 1930 NNL.

In 1931, he was a backup SS-CF for the Louisville White Sox and had one of his better offensive campaigns: .286/.330/.330 (82 OPS+). He split 1932 between the Cleveland Stars and Homestead Grays, with a composite .257/.323/.292 line (62 OPS+). He scored 26 runs in 46 games in 1933, split between the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Baltimore Sox; he hit .289/.343/.371 for a 94 OPS+, his career high. He played second, third, short, right and left that year. He led the 1933 NNL with 11 sacrifice hits.

The Arkansas native was only 4 for 52 with a walk for the 1934 Cleveland Red Sox, with almost as many sacrifice hits (3) as hits! In 1935, he was a bench player for the Newark Dodgers, backing up Flash Miller at second primarily. He hit .277/.320/.340. He did not play for top-level teams for a few years then returned in 1940 with the New York Black Yankees. He was 0 for 1 that year but was the starting shortstop for the 1941 New York Black Yankees, batting .160/.248/.181 for a 30 OPS+.

He had hit .237/.279/.300 (58 OPS+) in 308 Negro League games.

Related Sites

• Seamheads DB (12/24/2020)