Mort Cooper
Born: 3/2/1913 in Atherton, MO, USA
Died: 11/17/1958 in Little Rock, AR, USA
MLB Debut: 1938-09-14 | Final Game: 1949-05-07
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 210 lbs
Full name: Morton Cecil Cooper
Biography
Mort Cooper was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball whose career spanned from 1938 to 1949. Born in 1913, he made a significant mark in the National League, earning a reputation for his impressive skill on the mound. Cooper finished his career with a record of 128 wins and 75 losses, showcasing his competitiveness and consistency in an era that included the challenges of World War II, which impacted many players' careers. His earned run average (ERA) of 2.97 reflected his effectiveness as a pitcher, while his total of 913 strikeouts highlighted his ability to overpower batters.
A four-time All-Star, Cooper was recognized for his excellence during his playing days, and he received the TSN Guide MVP award, underscoring his significance in the league. Additionally, he contributed to games by securing 14 saves, demonstrating versatility in his role. Cooper's career remains notable not only for his personal achievements but also for his contributions to the game during a transformative period in baseball history, bridging the gap between the pre-war and post-war eras. His legacy as a skilled pitcher continues to be remembered by baseball historians and enthusiasts alike.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.167 | .000 | 0.167 |
Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 12.0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1935 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.250 | .000 | 0.250 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Pitching
| Season | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1935 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 128 | 75 | 295 | 239 | 128 | 33 | 14 | 1840.7 | 1666 | 607 | 85 | 571 | 913 | 2.97 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | STL | NL | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 23.7 | 17 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 3.04 | - |
| 1939 | STL | NL | 12 | 6 | 45 | 26 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 210.7 | 208 | 76 | 97 | 130 | 3.25 | - |
| 1940 | STL | NL | 11 | 12 | 38 | 29 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 230.7 | 225 | 93 | 86 | 95 | 3.63 | - |
| 1941 | STL | NL | 13 | 9 | 29 | 25 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 186.7 | 175 | 81 | 69 | 118 | 3.91 | - |
| 1942 | STL | NL | 22 | 7 | 37 | 35 | 22 | 10 | 0 | 278.7 | 207 | 55 | 68 | 152 | 1.78 | - |
| 1943 | STL | NL | 21 | 8 | 37 | 32 | 24 | 6 | 3 | 274.0 | 228 | 70 | 79 | 141 | 2.30 | - |
| 1944 | STL | NL | 22 | 7 | 34 | 33 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 252.3 | 227 | 69 | 60 | 97 | 2.46 | - |
| 1945 | BSN | NL | 7 | 4 | 20 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 78.0 | 77 | 29 | 27 | 45 | 3.35 | 899.8 |
| 1945 | STL | NL | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23.7 | 20 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 1.52 | - |
| 1946 | BSN | NL | 13 | 11 | 28 | 27 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 199.0 | 181 | 69 | 39 | 83 | 3.12 | 1421.1 |
| 1947 | BSN | NL | 2 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 46.7 | 48 | 21 | 13 | 15 | 4.05 | 601.8 |
| 1947 | NY1 | NL | 1 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 36.7 | 51 | 29 | 13 | 12 | 7.12 | -1387.4 |
| 1949 | CHC | NL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 297 | 654 | 50 | 127 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 68 | 0 | 23 | 118 | 0.194 | 0.223 | 0.246 | 0.469 | -3506.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | STL | NL | 4 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.222 | 0.0 |
| 1939 | STL | NL | 47 | 69 | 4 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0.232 | -248.1 |
| 1940 | STL | NL | 38 | 83 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 0.157 | -749.5 |
| 1941 | STL | NL | 29 | 70 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0.186 | -475.2 |
| 1942 | STL | NL | 37 | 103 | 6 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 0.184 | -675.6 |
| 1943 | STL | NL | 37 | 100 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 0.170 | -626.2 |
| 1944 | STL | NL | 34 | 94 | 9 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 0.202 | -424.7 |
| 1945 | BSN | NL | 20 | 26 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.231 | 0.0 |
| 1945 | STL | NL | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1946 | BSN | NL | 28 | 67 | 5 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 0.209 | -306.8 |
| 1947 | BSN | NL | 10 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1947 | NY1 | NL | 8 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.429 | 0.0 |
| 1949 | CHC | NL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0.071 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | WS | SLN | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
| 1943 | WS | SLN | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 |
| 1942 | WS | SLN | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.200 |
Playoff Career Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 45.0 | 37 | 15 | 12 | 35 | 3.00 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
| Year | Round | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | WS | SLN | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 16.0 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 1.12 |
| 1943 | WS | SLN | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 16.0 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 2.81 |
| 1942 | WS | SLN | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 13.0 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 5.54 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 295 | 0 | 50 | 270 | 16 | 20 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | SLN | P | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 1939 | SLN | P | 45 | 0 | 7 | 25 | 3 | 3 |
| 1940 | SLN | P | 38 | 0 | 4 | 38 | 2 | 1 |
| 1941 | SLN | P | 29 | 0 | 6 | 32 | 1 | 3 |
| 1942 | SLN | P | 37 | 0 | 6 | 44 | 2 | 3 |
| 1943 | SLN | P | 37 | 0 | 7 | 46 | 3 | 3 |
| 1944 | SLN | P | 34 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 0 | 1 |
| 1945 | BSN | P | 20 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 3 |
| 1945 | SLN | P | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1946 | BSN | P | 28 | 0 | 6 | 25 | 2 | 3 |
| 1947 | BSN | P | 10 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1947 | NY1 | P | 8 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1949 | CHN | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 295 |
Awards & Honors
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 9th | 63.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 5th | 130.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 1st | 263.0 | 336 | 13 |
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 24th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |