White Sox Remember Longtime Pitching Coach Donald James Cooper at 70

 Donald James Cooper, the longtime Chicago White Sox pitching coach and former Major League Baseball pitcher, died September 22, 2026, at age 70, according to his family. Cooper died peacefully at his home in Brentwood, Tennessee, the family said, and the White Sox later confirmed his death. A cause of death has not been publicly announced. His passing closes a baseball career that stretched across more than four decades and connected him to generations of players, coaches, and fans.

Cooper spent 33 seasons in the White Sox organization from 1988 through 2020, building a career that included 18 full seasons as the club’s Major League pitching coach. His long tenure placed him at the center of the organization through multiple eras and made him a familiar presence around the team. His work was not limited to game preparation; his career was also defined by teaching pitchers, communicating with players, and helping develop talent over many years.

Before becoming a coach, Cooper reached the major leagues as a pitcher, appearing for the Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Yankees. According to MLB, he played in 44 games across a four-year major league career, finishing with a 1-6 record and a 5.27 earned-run average. Those playing years eventually gave way to the coaching career that would become the defining chapter of his professional baseball life and bring him lasting ties to the White Sox.

Cooper’s most celebrated achievement came in 2005, when he served as the White Sox pitching coach during the team’s World Series championship season. The pitching staff recorded a 2.55 ERA during the postseason, and the American League Championship Series included four consecutive complete-game victories by White Sox starters. The championship became one of the defining moments in franchise history, and Cooper was part of the coaching staff that helped prepare the pitchers throughout that memorable run.

Over his decades with the organization, Cooper worked with prominent pitchers including Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Chris Sale, and Philip Humber. His influence, however, was not measured only through statistics or individual performances. Former players and coaches have remembered his commitment to instruction, communication, and helping others improve. Those qualities helped make his role broader than the title of pitching coach, connecting him with players during different stages of their careers and with colleagues throughout the organization.

The White Sox expressed condolences to Cooper’s family, friends, and fans after news of his death. For an organization, losing someone who spent 33 seasons within its system represents the end of a particularly long chapter. Cooper’s career crossed decades of changes in baseball, while his connection to the White Sox remained a constant. His work with pitchers and his relationships across the game became part of the organization’s history, especially through the championship season that defined an important era.

Cooper’s death leaves a legacy that includes a playing career, 33 seasons as a White Sox coach, and an association with the 2005 World Series championship. His career also reflects the quieter influence of coaching: teaching, preparing, communicating, and building trust with players over time. The family has not publicly announced a cause of death, and funeral arrangements have not yet been released. For fans and the White Sox community, his name will remain connected to the people and seasons he helped shape.