Umpiring career

After college, Cooper attended the Joe Brinkman Umpire School, and spent several years as a minor league umpire. He appeared in the Appalachian League (1990), Midwest League (1991), Florida State League (1992), Eastern League (1993-94), American Association (1995-97) and Pacific Coast League (1998).

Cooper has consistently worn number 56 as an umpire. He worked the Division Series (2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), the League Championship Series (2004, 2015), the 2015 American League Wild Card Game, the 2014 World Series, and the 2005 All-Star Game. Cooper also worked the San Juan, Puerto Rico round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Notable games

Cooper was the home plate umpire for Hideo Nomo's no-hitter in 2001, and for Mark Buehrle's no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on April 18, 2007. He was also behind the plate for Buehrle's subsequent perfect game thrown in 2009. Cooper joined Ed Vargo as umpires who had called balls and strikes for two no-hitters by the same pitcher. Eric is one of only eight active major league umpires who have worked behind the plate for multiple no-hitters; the others are Jeff Kellogg, Ed Hickox, Ted Barrett, Adrian Johnson, Ron Kulpa, Brian Knight, and Greg Gibson.

Cooper was the third base umpire in the last game played at the old Yankee Stadium.

He was also the plate umpire for the September 2008 game in which Francisco Rodriguez tied the major league single-season save record. Cooper was struck by a foul ball during the game, but was able to continue after a brief pause. Rodriguez would break the record before the end of the season.

Personal

Cooper lives in his native Iowa. He is married to Tara Cooper and has two children. Cooper graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in transportation logistics.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]