Cecil Cooper
Cooper's 1980 season stands as one of the most underappreciated MVP-caliber campaigns in baseball history. His .352 average that year ranked fourth in the majors, while his .926 OPS represented a massive 17% jump above league average — the peak of a career built on consistent excellence rather than flashy power numbers.
The Milwaukee first baseman combined elite contact skills with surprising defensive prowess, earning two Gold Gloves at a position not known for stellar defense. His 111 career OPS+ over 17 seasons reflects steady production that helped anchor the Brewers' rise from expansion afterthought to AL pennant winner in 1982.
Cooper's 1,125 RBIs tell the story of a clutch hitter who maximized his opportunities despite playing in smaller markets. His five All-Star selections and three Silver Sluggers validate what Brewers fans knew — he was the steady heartbeat of their most successful era.
Career · Batting
17 seasons| Year | Team | G | AB | HR | RBI | AVG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | BOS | 14 | 42 | 0 | 3 | .310 | .840 | 123 |
| 1972 | BOS | 12 | 17 | 0 | 2 | .235 | .610 | 92 |
| 1973 | BOS | 30 | 101 | 3 | 11 | .238 | .631 | 90 |
| 1974 | BOS | 121 | 414 | 8 | 43 | .275 | .724 | 104 |
| 1975 | BOS | 106 | 305 | 14 | 44 | .311 | .899 | 128 |
| 1976 | BOS | 123 | 451 | 15 | 78 | .282 | .761 | 112 |
| 1977 | ML4 | 160 | 643 | 20 | 78 | .300 | .789 | 108 |
| 1978 | ML4 | 107 | 407 | 13 | 54 | .312 | .833 | 119 |
| 1979 | ML4 | 150 | 590 | 24 | 106 | .308 | .872 | 120 |
| 1980 | ML4 | 153 | 622 | 25 | 122 | .352 | .926 | 130 |
| 1981 | ML4 | 106 | 416 | 12 | 60 | .320 | .858 | 125 |
| 1982 | ML4 | 155 | 654 | 32 | 121 | .313 | .870 | 122 |
| 1983 | ML4 | 160 | 661 | 30 | 126 | .307 | .849 | 119 |
| 1984 | ML4 | 148 | 603 | 11 | 67 | .275 | .693 | 98 |
| 1985 | ML4 | 154 | 631 | 16 | 99 | .293 | .779 | 109 |
| 1986 | ML4 | 134 | 542 | 12 | 75 | .258 | .682 | 95 |
| 1987 | ML4 | 63 | 250 | 6 | 36 | .248 | .665 | 89 |
| Career | 1896 | 7349 | 241 | 1125 | .298 | — | — | |
Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.