How Savannah's Gary Cooper is getting strong support to appeal for his MLB pension

Savannah resident Gary Cooper, 67, remembers his time as a star four-sport athlete at Groves like it was yesterday.

A 1975 graduate, he was a star running back, defensive back and return man on the Rebel football team, a standout basketball player, and was considered the fastest man in town as a sprinter who barely trained in track — yet once posted a time of 9.70 in the 100-yard dash.

But his best sport was baseball. As a pitcher, he posted a 19-3 record with the Rebels and threw three no-hitters, two that came against Benedictine, he said. He hit .454 as a senior and was known for his blazing speed on the base paths and in the outfield.

He was drafted by the Braves in the third round of the MLB Draft that year, with the 66th pick. Cooper said he was at Tybee Beach with friends, when someone congratulated him for getting drafted.

"I said 'What? Drafted by the Army?,'" Cooper recalled with a laugh. "It was wild."

That started a six-year run in the Minor Leagues that began in Kingsport, Tennessee. He came back home to play for the Savannah Braves AA team at Grayson Stadium for three seasons. He averaged more than 30 stolen bases per year in the minors, with a high of 43. He got the call up to Atlanta at the age of 23 in the summer of 1980 and bypassed AAA to join a Braves squad that included stars such as Phil Niekro and Dale Murphy.

Cooper's best Major League memory came in his first game as he made the trip to Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh and was inserted late in the game as a defensive replacement in left field. Pirate speedster Omar Moreno hit one his way.

"Moreno hit one that took a bounce and went over my head," Cooper said. "But I did a 360 and grabbed it with my bare hand and threw him out at second to end the game. I had never been farther from home than Nashville and Memphis before that, so to play in front of a packed stadium in Pittsburgh and make that play was one of my best highlights."

But Cooper's time with the Braves was short lived. He played in just 21 games and was hitless in two at-bats. He stole a pair of bases and scored three runs as he spent 42 days on the roster — just one day shy of qualifying for a Major League pension. He didn't realize how close he was until years later. Cooper hung up his cleats after playing one more year in the Minors for the Durham Bulls.

His story was first reported last month by Dave Mesrey, who wrote an article for Andscape detailing Cooper's story and his efforts to obtain his pension. The story has been picked up by multiple outlets since — with CNN, NPR and the Atlanta Journal Constitution publishing accounts, along with Savannah's local news outlets.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson even weighed in last week on X, formerly Twitter, where he posted asking the Braves to sign Cooper to a 1-day contract to qualify for his pension.

A path to Major League Pension for Gary Cooper

An attorney for Cooper has tried to get exceptions to the 43-day requirement of service time for the pension for Cooper, but his appeals have been denied. Cooper's life after baseball has had its ups and downs. He worked as a landscaper for years, and things got tough with times he was homeless. Now he lives with his niece as his life is once again in the spotlight, and is hoping another appeal will be approved. Cooper was selected as a member of the Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023.

Cooper's friend, Robert Jonas, started a petition at Change.org to ask the Braves to sign Cooper to a one-day contract that has garnered more than 14,000 signatures. Jonas also started a GoFundme that has raised nearly $10,000.

"I've known Gary for years and there's been times where it would have been hard for me to keep a smile on my face if I was going through the circumstances he was dealing with," Jonas said. "I've seen it weigh on him at times, but he remains so positive and nearly always has a smile on his face. I'm trying to help him because he was so close to that pension. Back then, Gary got a signing bonus of about $1,500. (Last year's 66th pick in the MLB Draft had as signing bonus of $1,158,900). He's living with his niece and receiving social security so any little bit would help."

Jonas noted that when Cooper decided to step away from the game, he lacked an education and had few options in a life where he worked hard to make ends meet.

"It seems like an injustice to me that he didn't get that pension, so we're trying to help with that," Jonas said.

The pension that Cooper would be due with one more day of service has been estimated at about $6,000 per year, around $500 a month. Jonas cited a precedent when the Braves signed the legendary Satchel Paige in 1968 so he could reach the minimum time needed to receive his pension.

"I realize Satchel Paige was an icon and much more well known that Gary Cooper," Jonas said. "But I think it would be great publicity for the organization and a way to help someone who needs it out. Some people might say 'Then you need to do that for everyone in that situation.' And I say — it would be great if we did."

Cooper said the last few weeks have been overwhelming.

"It's been going crazy," Cooper said of the media attention and support he has received. "It means a hell of a lot to me. I didn't get that much support when I was playing. So It's been a blessing and I'm really thankful.

"When I got my chance with the Braves a coach told me 'Coop, it's your time.' And I thought 'Lord have mercy,' " Cooper said. "I might not have got my pension, but when I was on the Braves I was one of the fastest players in baseball. It was my dream to play in the Major Leagues, and I did it. I thank God for showing me that dreams do come true. I might only have got to play in 21 games, but at least I got a chance to be there and get a taste of it."

Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at [email protected]. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Former Groves star Gary Cooper back in spotlight in quest for MLB pension