Tom Cooper

Thomas Roger Cooper

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut 1947
• Final Game 1948
• Born January 17, 1927 in Kansas City, KS USA
• Died October 9, 1985 in Arlington, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Tom Cooper played four different positions as a three-time East-West Game All-Star and also played in the minors.

Cooper came up in the last years of the Negro Leagues, after the color barrier had already been broken. He was a backup his first couple of years with the Kansas City Monarchs, 1947-1948, sharing time at first base with Buck O'Neil, but also seeing time at second base and in the outfield. In the 1950 East-West Game, he pinch-hit for Casey Jones in the 5th, stayed in the game at catcher then moved to right field to replace Bob Harvey when Pepper Bassett entered to catch. Cooper went 0 for 1 in a 5-3 win for the West.

Cooper hit 6th and started at catcher for the West in the 1951 East-West Game. He moved to first base, replacing Gilbert Varona when Jones was brought in to catch. Cooper went 2 for 4 in a 3-1 loss, the only West player with multiple hits. In his last season with the Monarchs, 1953, he hit 5th and started in left field for the West in the 1953 East-West Game. He was 0 for 3 in a 5-1 win.

Cooper then moved into the minor leagues. He was 10 for 52 with a double for the 1953 Schenectady Blue Jays, 10 for 44 with a triple for the 1954 Trois-Rivières Phillies and 0 for 16 for the 1957 Schenectady Blue Jays to end with a .179 average in the minors.

Sources

• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
• The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway
• Black Baseball's National Showcase by Larry Lester

Related Sites

• BR Minors page