In the summer of 1980, a virtually unknown rookie outfielder named Gary Cooper was considered by some scouts to be the fastest man in baseball. That summer, the 23-year-old native of Savannah, Georgia, spent 42 days on the Atlanta Braves’ major-league roster as a pinch-runner and late-inning defensive specialist.

In his big-league debut on August 25 that year, Cooper cut down Pirates speedster Omar Moreno at second base in spectacular fashion for the final out of an 8-6 Braves victory over the defending world champions at Pittsburgh's historic Three Rivers Stadium.

But more than 40 years after a rainout on Sept. 28 that year — a game the Braves were not required to make up — Gary Cooper today remains just one day shy of the minimum of 43 days to qualify for a pension from Major League Baseball. 

Now his former team, the Atlanta Braves, has a chance to repeat history. 

In 1968, when legendary former Negro Leagues pitcher Satchel Paige needed just 158 days on an active major-league roster to reach the five-year minimum required to receive a pension, 19 teams turned him down. But the Atlanta Braves signed the 62-year-old former star as a part-time pitcher and team advisor.

Although he never played a game that season, Satch eventually got his pension.

Today, Gary Cooper lives a spartan lifestyle in his hometown of Savannah, Georgia. In recent years, he has struggled with homelessness, but today at age 67 he is a distinguished senior citizen. Last spring, Mr. Cooper was even inducted into the Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame. Prior to the ceremony, he granted a rare interview to Detroit-based journalist Dave Mesrey. 

Still, Mr. Cooper has no car, no home to call his own, no savings, no pension, and struggles just to pay his phone bill every month. To help support himself, Mr. Cooper works part-time as a landscaper, but lately work has been scarce.

However, if Mr. Cooper were to serve just one more day on a Major League Baseball roster, he could be eligible to receive a monthly pension.  

Please join us in urging the Atlanta Braves to add Gary Cooper to their coaching staff for just one game of the 2024 baseball season and help Mr. Cooper support himself in his golden years.

To learn more about Gary Cooper, check out the new feature story in ESPN’s Andscape.com.

Thank you!