Cooper appeared in only 12 games for the Boston Red Sox during the 1972 season, so I get why Topps didn’t include him in their 1973 set, even though he already had his rookie card in the 1972 set along with Carlton Fisk and Mike Garmen.
Over those 12 games in 1972 Cooper hit .235 with four hits over 17 at-bats, driving in two while playing some first base.
Of course, we all know that after a few more partial seasons with the Red Sox where he gave everyone a glimpse of what he could do, he’d hit his stride when he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on December 6th, 1976 for Bernie Carbo and George Scott.
Between 1977 and 1987, Cooper would become a star, driving in 100+ runs four times, collect over 200 hits three times, hit over .300 seven times and lead the league in RBIs twice, doubles twice and total bases once.
Between 1979 and 1985 he was named to five All-Star teams, win two Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger Wards, and finish in the top-5 in the MVP race three times.
Year in and year out this guy flat out raked, and I was a huge fan, even though he’d get lost in the Milwaukee crowd of Yount, Molitor, Fingers, etc.
By the time he retired, he finished with a career .298 average, with 2192 hits and 1125 RBIs, with 241 homers and 415 doubles over only 1896 games and 7349 at-bats.
