Former Chicago White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper, who oversaw the 2005 championship staff, dies at 70

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former longtime Chicago White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper died at the age of 70, the team announced on Wednesday.

Cooper became the Sox pitching coach on July 22, 2002, and served in that role through 2020.

His 2005 pitching staff put together one of the most impressive postseason performances, compiling a 2.55 ERA while limiting the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Houston Astros to a combined .202 average during an 11-1 run to the World Series title.

The quartet of Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Freddy García and José Contreras recorded four straight complete-game victories over the final four games of the ALCS against the Angels.

As part of his 33 years in the organization, Cooper spent 15 seasons (1988-2002) in various coaching capacities in the Sox minor-league system, including six (1997-2002) as the pitching coordinator.

“Loquacious and intelligent when it came to pitching,” former Sox manager Jerry Manuel said of Cooper. “I miss the conversations. You served your staff well.”

“Forever in our thoughts,” the team said as part of the announcement on social media.