| Eric Cooper | |
|---|---|
Cooper in 2007. |
|
| Born | December 18, 1966 |
| Occupation | MLB umpire |
| Height | 5' 10" inches |
| Weight | 215lb. |
Eric Richard Cooper (born December 18, 1966 in Des Moines, Iowa), is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked both leagues since 1999.
Cooper has consistently worn number 56 as an umpire. He worked the Division Series (2003, 2005-06, 2008, 2011), the 2004 NLCS and the 2005 All-Star Game. Cooper also worked the San Juan, Puerto Rico round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic and was a part of the ALDS crew for White Sox-Rays in 2008.[1] Cooper was the home plate umpire for Hideo Nomo's no-hitter in 2001, and for Mark Buehrle's no-hitter in 2007. He was also was behind the plate for Buehrle's subsequent perfect game thrown in 2009.[2] In so doing, Cooper joined Ed Vargo as umpires who had called balls and strikes for two no-hitters by the same pitcher. Vargo had been home plate umpire for the last two of Sandy Koufax's four no-hitters—the latter of which was also a perfect game. Eric is one of only two active Major League umpires who have worked multiple no-hitters, the other being Tim Tschida.[3]