Claude Cooper
From BR Bullpen
Claude William Cooper
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 5' 9", Weight 158 lb.
- School Texas Christian University
- Debut April 14, 1913
- Final Game June 26, 1917
- Born April 1, 1892 in Troup, TX USA
- Died January 21, 1974 in Plainview, TX USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Claude Cooper was a player who came from Texas Christian University and the Texas League. A few years earlier, John McGraw had been hailed as a genius for making pitcher Louis Drucke the first major league player from Texas Christian University, since Drucke was an effective pitcher at a young age before he was injured. Cooper was McGraw's second try with a player from Texas Christian University, made easy for McGraw because Cooper had had a great season in the Texas League, and Cooper responded at the major league level by hitting .300 with a .382 on-base percentage in his rookie stint of 27 games in 1913 at the age of 21. The Giants went on to win the pennant.
Cooper became a regular in the Federal League for a couple years (although he broke his leg early in 1914), but then was unable to hit .200 in the National League in 1916 and 1917.
Cooper hired John Ward, the Hall of Famer who was also an attorney and who had been G.M. for Cooper's team in the Federal League to sue for unpaid money from his 1913 season. Ward won.
