Deaths
Eric Cooper
(AP) — Eric Cooper, the Major League Baseball umpire who worked the AL Division Series two weeks ago, has died. He was 52.
Cooper died after having a blood clot. He had knee surgery earlier in the week and was recuperating at his father’s home in Iowa. Popular with his fellow umps, he was talking to them Saturday about his recovery.
Cooper made his debut in the majors in 1996 as a minor league fill-in and joined the big league staff in 1999.
His most recent assignment came in the playoffs this month when he worked the New York Yankees’ sweep of Minnesota in the ALDS. He was at second base on Oct. 7 for the clinching Game 3 at Target Field.