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| Manager and Coaches |
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Cecil Cooper 15 |
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Full Name: Cecil Celester Cooper
Title: Manager
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| Bio: |
The 2009 season is Cecil Coopers second full season
as the manager of the Houston Astros and his third overall.
The Astros won 86 games in 2008, a 13-game improvement
from the previous year and the second-largest turnaround
in franchise history, bested only by the 21-win increase
from the 2000 (72 wins) to the 2001 season (93 wins). The
86 wins were also the most for the franchise since winning
89 in 2005. Including a 15-16 mark in 2008, the Astros are
101-91 (.526) during Coopers tenure as the manager.
Coopers 2008 Astros team also had the best record
in the National League in the 2nd Half at 42-22, only a
half-game away from the best mark in the Majors post-All-
Star Break (Angels, 43-22). The 42-22 record was also the
fourth-best 2nd Half mark in Houston franchise history.
The well-rounded club led the National League in both
shutouts and saves while leaving the fewest runners on
base in the league and ranking fifth in the NL with 114
stolen bases, an increase of 49 steals from the previous
year.
Additionally, the 2008 Astros were the best defensive team
in the Majors this season, leading all clubs in fielding percentage
(.989) while committing the fewest errors of any team (67). The 67
errors were the fewest for a National League club in history in a nonstrike
season.
The 2008 campaign was also Coopers fourth year on the Astros
staff, as he served as the clubs bench coach from 2005 until he was
named interim manager on Aug. 27, 2007, replacing Phil Garner. He
was promoted to the full-time post on Sept. 28, and the club was 15-
16 in 31 games under Cooper in 2007. Cooper is the 16th manager
in franchise history.
During his career in baseball, Cooper has been an All-Star player
as well as a minor league manager, coach, player development
director, and player agent. He has now added Major League
manager to his illustrious career resume.
Cooper returned to the Major League coaching ranks in 2005
as the Astros bench coach after spending the 2003-04 seasons
as manager of the Triple A Indianapolis Indians in the Milwaukee
organization. He collected 130 wins at the helm of the Indians,
posting a 66-78 mark in 2004 for third in the International Leagues
West Division, and a 64-78 record in 2003.
Cooper returned to the dugout for the first time since his playing career when he was named bench coach for
Milwaukee on April 30, 2002. He previously worked in several capacities in the Brewers organization. For the 2000-
01 seasons, he served the Brewers as special assistant to the general manager as well as roving minor league hitting
instructor. During the 1997-99 seasons, he was Milwaukees Director of Player Development.
Following the conclusion of his playing career, Cooper worked as a player agent for CSMG International (1988-96).
A 17-year Major League veteran, Cooper batted .298 with 241
home runs and 1,125 RBI. He was selected by Boston in the 27th round
of the 1968 free agent draft and made his big league debut with the
Red Sox in 1971. In 1974, he became Bostons starting first baseman
and helped the Sox to the World Series in 1975.
After the 1976 season, Cooper was traded to Milwaukee. He
concluded his career with 11 seasons as a Brewer, including a World
Series appearance in 1982.
He earned two Gold Glove awards as a first baseman (1979, 80),
and was a five-time American League All-Star (1979, 80, 82, 83, and
85). He led the AL in doubles in 1979 (44, tie) and 1981 (35); led the AL
in RBI in 1980 (122) and 1983 (126, tie); and finished second in the AL
in batting in 1980 (.352). He posted three seasons with 200-plus hits
(1980, 82, 83), and two seasons with 30-plus home runs (1982, 83). He
was named the Brewers team MVP three seasons (1980, 82, 83), and
finished fifth in AL MVP voting three times (1980, 82, 83). He still holds
the Milwaukee franchise records for both hits (219 in 1980) and RBI in
a season (126 in 1983).
In 1983, Cooper was honored with Major League Baseballs
Roberto Clemente Award. In 2002, he was inducted into the Brewers
Walk of Fame, and he was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall
of Fame in 2007.
Cooper and his wife, Octavia, have three daughters: Kelly, Brittany
and Tori, and make their offseason home in Katy, Texas. He is the
youngest of 13 children, and he had two brothers who played for the
Indianapolis Clowns. He graduated from Brenham (TX) High School
in 1968 where he played on two state championship baseball teams.
He attended Blinn Junior College and Prairie View A&M College.
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