Gary Cooper missed out on an MLB pension by one day. Now, 44 years later, a petition is championing for that to be rectified
April 18, 2024
Gary Cooper missed out on an MLB pension by one day. Now, 44 years later, a petition is championing for that to be rectified
10 comments
the strong silent type.
If they don’t, it’s going to look pretty damned stupid and petty for the organization. There’s no risk of people abusing this kind of situation; his roster time is well documented, and it’s a negligible amount of money.
Even if they don’t add him to the roster for a day, the organization can easily afford to offer him a modest little pension directly.
I’m for it. Not his fault the last game got cancelled
Give it to him
He was a baseball player, Gary Cooper?
The signing him for one day thing is not in the Braves control.
From the AJC article:
“MLB must approve every transaction. This one – signing Cooper – almost certainly would be denied because it could be viewed as a clear case of a team trying to circumvent the pension plan set by MLB and the MLBPA.”
He has been petitioning MLB and the MLBPA to get his pension, which is like $5,700ish annually, only because he has 42 days of service. They measure it in quarters which is 43, hence why he needs 1 day.
The Braves should help him out but they likely can’t just sign him to a one day contract. They could just write him a check. That pension monthly is only $500 a month so while helpful it’s not like a life changing amount of money people typically think of when they think of an MLB players pension.
Whateva happened there?
Super duper.
While I understand that MLB/MLBPA can’t just give exceptions to every rule they created, this case should be an exception. A rain-out is no fault of Cooper nor the team, and it isn’t fair that he’s being punished for basically an act of God. It’s not unreasonable for them to consider a case-by-case exception.
He played ball, Gary Cooper? Whatever happened there. Take care o’ the guy.
10 comments
the strong silent type.
If they don’t, it’s going to look pretty damned stupid and petty for the organization. There’s no risk of people abusing this kind of situation; his roster time is well documented, and it’s a negligible amount of money.
Even if they don’t add him to the roster for a day, the organization can easily afford to offer him a modest little pension directly.
I’m for it. Not his fault the last game got cancelled
Give it to him
He was a baseball player, Gary Cooper?
The signing him for one day thing is not in the Braves control.
From the AJC article:
“MLB must approve every transaction. This one – signing Cooper – almost certainly would be denied because it could be viewed as a clear case of a team trying to circumvent the pension plan set by MLB and the MLBPA.”
He has been petitioning MLB and the MLBPA to get his pension, which is like $5,700ish annually, only because he has 42 days of service. They measure it in quarters which is 43, hence why he needs 1 day.
The Braves should help him out but they likely can’t just sign him to a one day contract. They could just write him a check. That pension monthly is only $500 a month so while helpful it’s not like a life changing amount of money people typically think of when they think of an MLB players pension.
Whateva happened there?
Super duper.
While I understand that MLB/MLBPA can’t just give exceptions to every rule they created, this case should be an exception. A rain-out is no fault of Cooper nor the team, and it isn’t fair that he’s being punished for basically an act of God. It’s not unreasonable for them to consider a case-by-case exception.
He played ball, Gary Cooper? Whatever happened there. Take care o’ the guy.