He needs one more day on the roster for an MLB pension. Can the Braves help?

Gary Cooper, a former Atlanta Braves player, is one day short of qualifying for an MLB pension after spending 42 days on the team’s roster in 1980. Now 67, Cooper’s supporters have launched a Change.org petition urging the Braves to add him to the roster for one more day so he can meet the pension requirement. After his brief stint in the majors, Cooper played for the minor league Durham Bulls before retiring from baseball and drifting through various jobs. His lawyer attempted to challenge the MLB pension eligibility criteria, citing a rained-out game that might have extended Cooper’s time on the roster, but the appeal was denied. As a last resort, advocates are hoping the Braves will grant Cooper the same favor they extended to pitcher Satchel Paige in 1968, who was signed briefly to help him qualify for his pension. Cooper, still passionate about baseball, hopes to contribute further, possibly as a coach. The Braves have yet to respond to the petition.

Source: NPR