Former Braves player asking team to re-sign him for 1 day so he can get MLB pension
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A former Atlanta Braves player is petitioning to have one more day on the major league team’s roster. It’s not just for the love of the game – there’s money on the line, too.
Gary Cooper spent years playing in the minor leagues in Savannah. But in 1980, the Braves called him up to the big leagues.
“It’s something that every kid wants to do, you know – play professional baseball,” Cooper said. “I was in front of 45,000 people. Man, it was crazy!”
He played in 21 games, the first against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mostly used as a pinch runner and substitute outfielder, Cooper was on the roster for 42 glorious days. He says they were some of the best days of his life.
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Former Braves player asking team to re-sign him for 1 day so he can get MLB pension
Former Braves player Gary Cooper is asking the team to re-sign him for just one day so he can get his MLB pension.
By Chelsea Beimfohr
Published: Apr. 19, 2024 at 12:08 AM GMT+1|Updated: 9 hours ago
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A former Atlanta Braves player is petitioning to have one more day on the major league team’s roster. It’s not just for the love of the game – there’s money on the line, too.
Gary Cooper spent years playing in the minor leagues in Savannah. But in 1980, the Braves called him up to the big leagues.
“It’s something that every kid wants to do, you know – play professional baseball,” Cooper said. “I was in front of 45,000 people. Man, it was crazy!”
He played in 21 games, the first against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mostly used as a pinch runner and substitute outfielder, Cooper was on the roster for 42 glorious days. He says they were some of the best days of his life.
RELATED: ‘Just one day’: Former Atlanta Braves player needs to be signed for day to receive pension
But his tenure ended just one day short of qualifying for an MLB pension when he was sent back to the minor leagues in Savannah.
It’s a story that’s captured the attention of many, including Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, who tweeted about Cooper this week and signed his own name to an online petition calling for the Braves to offer Cooper a one-day contract.
“I was like, ‘Wow, really? Like, really?’” Johnson said. “We’re only talking maybe about $500 or $600 a month. But someone in their late 60s, that means a whole lot of difference.”
