Books and articles about Wilbur Cooper

Cooper won more games (202) than any other Pirate lefthander, at least 17 games a year from 1917 through 1924 with a career-high 24 in 1920 and a league-best 22 in 1921. The sinkerballer twice led the NL with 27 complete games, and led in two other seasons with 38 starts.

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Cooper's fielding skills were exceptional, particularly his knack for picking runners off third base -- seven in 1924 alone. His partner, Pie Traynor, would dive toward the bag as Cooper whipped a sidearm throw to third. Walter Schmidt caught him for most of his career with Pittsburgh and they knew each other so well that the battery wasted little time on signals. Cooper got a reputation as a fast worker.

A .239 lifetime batter, Cooper hit four homers in 1922, and hit .346 in 104 at-bats in 1924. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 6, 1912: In his first major league start, Pittsburgh's Wilbur Cooper stops the Cardinals, 8–0. » May 29, 1915: The Pirates score just one run in each game of a doubleheader, but it's enough for a sweep of the Cubs. Wilbur Cooper and Al Mamaux both toss 1–0 whitewashes. » September 4, 1916: Pirates Frank Miller and Wilbur Cooper shut out the Cardinals 7–0 and 2–0. » August 27, 1917: In the 4th inning in New York, Pirates swiftie Max Carey beats out a bunt single, and goes to 2B on a single by Tony Boekel. Both runners steal on the next pitch from Rube Benton and, with Boekel entangled with New York 2B Buck Herzog, Carey steals home as well. Wilbur Cooper makes the one run stand up for the 1–0 win. For Carey, it is his 13th steal of home enroute to a NL record 33 steals of home. » September 1, 1917: The Cardinals, behind the pitching of Oscar Horstmann and Milt Watson, win both ends of a doubleheader with Pittsburgh by 1–0 scores. Wilbur Cooper takes the loss in Game One on an unearned run in the 9th. Hal Carlson loses the 2nd game. The Cards have now won three straight 1–0 games from the Pirates, tying the ML mark and setting the NL mark. » September 9, 1917: The Cubs Phil Douglas stops the Pirates on three hits to beat Wilbur Cooper, 1–0. » June 4, 1921: The Pirates' Wilbur Cooper, who with Burleigh Grimes will lead the NL with 22 wins, loses his first after eight straight victories when the Giants drub him 12-0. The Giants are on top, but only for a few days; the Pirates will regain the lead. » July 29, 1922: At the Polo Grounds, the under-performing Pirates crack five homers and trounce the league-leading Giants, 8–3. Max Carey hits two and starter Wilbur Cooper another. » September 13, 1922: Pittsburgh sweeps a pair from the visiting Braves, winning 8–1 and 6–1. Wilbur Cooper and Johnny Morrison are the winners. Joe Genewich makes his ML debut in relief for the Braves. Genewich jumped from the sandlots, where he was making $5 a game pitching, directly to the Braves, bypassing the minors. » May 17, 1923: The Braves Dick Rudolph wins 1–0 over Pittsburgh's Wilbur Cooper in 10 innings. This is the only win of the year for the 35-year-old coach. He stops Charlie Grimm's 25-game hit streak. » October 27, 1924: The Cubs trade P Vic Aldridge, 1B George Grantham, and 1B Al Niehaus to Pittsburgh for 1B Charlie Grimm, SS Rabbit Maranville, and P Wilbur Cooper. Grantham will hit .300 for six seasons with the Bucs, while Grimm will play 11 seasons with Chicago, eventually becoming player-manager. In 1925, Maranville will be named a player-manager as well. Cooper, who has averaged 20 wins a year over the past six seasona, will drop to 12–14 with the Cubs. This past season he picked off seven runners at 3B. » May 28, 1925: The Cubs tally 11 hits and score 12 runs in the 7th inning to break open the game and win 13–3 at Cincinnati. In the 7th, Barney Friberg doubles and triples, Charlie Grimm has a single and double, and Arnie Statz and pitcher Wilbur Cooper each have two singles.