MLB Umpire Eric Cooper was so overjoyed by the news he’d be working his first World Series that he almost crashed his car. The story is one that most fans don’t know, but for umpires getting ‘the call’ is a huge experience.
Cooper and his wife were driving home in Des Moines, Iowa when MLB Vice President of Operations aka Joe Torre called him. Here’s what happened next, via Des Moines Register:
“I picked it up and he said, ‘Hey, Coop, it’s Joe Torre. How are you?’…“I said, ‘Well, I just about wrecked the car when I saw the area code.’ Mr. Torre said to pull the car over and put it into park. He said, ‘How would you like to work the World Series this year?'”
Cooper’s been working as an ump since 1999 and will finally be working his first World Series. Cooper is one of 4 new comers to the Fall Classic which begins Tuesday. One of the main reasons why he was selected was because of his success under the new replay system in place. Only having 3 overturned calls this season.
Perhaps this was the most touching quote which summed up the experience:
“I was pretty emotional,” Cooper said. “Mr. Torre suggested my wife drive the rest of the way home. So I hugged my wife, we switched seats, and she drove.”