Page 21 - 1975 BoSox

14 ’75—THE RED SOX TEAM THAT SAVED BASEBALL
or unfairly, he was dismissed from a team had a high payroll and aging stars who weren’t performing to expectations. Overall, Cooper’s record as a manager was 171-170.
rough 2014, Cooper held the Brewers’ season record for hits (219 in 1980) and singles (157, also 1980), and was second in RBIs (126 in 1983). He was ranked fourth in Brewers career batting average (.302), third in hits (1,815) and doubles (345), and fourth in at-bats (6019) and games played (1490). He was second in RBIs with 994. His single-season average of .352 in 1980 was the team’s second best, just behind Paul Molitor’s .353 in 1987.
In his hometown of Brenham, a eld was dedicated in Cooper’s honor and his number was retired at Brenham High School. In 2002 he was inducted into the Walk of Fame at the Brewers’ Miller Park. at same year he was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 2014 Cooper was among 58 former Brewers who were inducted into the Wall of Honor outside Miller Park.
As of 2014 Cooper lived in Katy, Texas with his wife, Octavia. ere are three daughters: Kelly (born in 1978), Brittany (1987), and Tori (1993).
Sources
Chass, Murray, “What Cecil Cooper Can Do,” New York Times, June 27, 1982.
Cotton, Anthony, “No Condolences, please,” Sports Illustrated, September 22, 1980. Although there is no record by SABR’s Negro
Leagues Committee, this SI issue and Cooper himself in a June 2005 interview said that his brothers played for the Indianapolis Clowns.
Elderkin, Phil, “Brewer Who Chased Brett: Milwaukee’s Cecil Cooper Hits Anything,” Christian Science Monitor, October 7, 1980.
Fimrite, Ron, “I’m the Lou Gehrig of My Time,” Sports Illustrated, September 19, 1983.
Flaherty, Tom, “Cooper Earns Clemente Prize,” e Sporting News, February 28. 1983.
Gammons, Peter, “Cooper groggy, but in one piece,” Boston Globe, September 8, 1975.
Guiliotti, Joe, “Cecil Cooper: He Would Rather be No. 1!” Baseball Digest, June 1981.
Ho mann, Gregg, Down in the Valley: e History of Milwaukee County Stadium (Milwaukee: e Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 2000).
Leerhsen, Charles, “Harvey’s Wallbangers,” Newsweek, August 2, 1982.
astros.com baseballlibrary.com baseball-reference.com milwaukeebrewers.com
anks to Tom Skibosh, Jim Long, Howard Bryant, Cecil Cooper ( June 2005), and the late Merle Harmon for their contributions.
Notes
1 Baseball Digest, June 1981.
2 Sports Illustrated, September 22, 1980.
3 Sports Illustrated, September 19, 1983.
4 New York Times, June 27, 1982.
5 Christian Science Monitor, October 1980.
6 Gregg Ho mann, Down in the Valley: e History of Milwaukee County Stadium, 97.
7 Sports Illustrated, September 19, 1983. 8 e Sporting News, February 28. 1983.