The Trouble With Angels--Cecil Cooper : Brewers’ One-Man Destruction Derby Picks Up Where He Left Off

In 16 years of big-league play, Cecil Cooper has made five All-Star appearances, hit 226 home runs and collected more hits (892) than any major leaguer in the last five seasons.

But Angel fans will always remember him best for a two-run single he hit in the seventh inning on Oct. 10, 1982, that lifted Milwaukee to a 4-3 win over the Angels in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series and into its first and only World Series.

It’s not that Cooper hasn’t caused the Angels considerable grief on other occasions--he has a .304 lifetime batting average against them with 18 homers and 72 RBIs--it’s just that name Cecil Cooper will live forever in infamy around Anaheim Stadium. He’s a regular Bobby Thompson in blue in gold around these parts.

Friday night, Cooper revived the memories with a two-home run, five-RBI performance that helped the Brewers rout the Angels, 16-5.

“This was fun,” Cooper said later, “but it doesn’t compare to that hit in ’82. That was one of the biggest thrills in my career. I remember it like it was yesterday . . .I’ll never forget it.

“Hell, that was probably the biggest hit in the history of this franchise.”

Cooper has a way of making all his hits against the Angels count. He had just two hits this season against them before Friday night, but his ninth-inning single last Saturday in Milwaukee drove in the tying run in a game the Brewers eventually won in the 10th, 4-3. And his double in the sixth inning Sunday started a three-run rally that lifted the Brewers to a 5-3 victory.

He picked up where he left off Friday night, single-handedly dismantling the Angel staff. He deposited a 3-1 Kirk McCaskill delivery into the right-field seats for a three-run homer in the Brewers’ seven-run third, hit a solo shot off T.R. Bryden in eighth and had a RBI single to left off Terry Forster in the ninth.

Cooper, a two-time Gold Glove first baseman, has not made an appearance in the field this season and he’s considerably less than content with his role as designated hitter. But an elbow injury that kept him out of most of spring training still hinders his throwing, so he has to sit and watch and wait between at-bats these days.

“In the last three or four days I’ve sort of resigned myself to this role,” he said. “I’m going to have to do what they ask me to. If I had my druthers, I’d be out there in the field, but that’s just not the way it is, now.”

Milwaukee Manager George Bamberger is happy with the play of rookie first baseman Billy Joe Robidoux, but he says who plays first is not a major concern.

“I just want both of those bats in the lineup,” Bamberger said. “Cecil’s still not 100%. This is his spring training, but he’s starting to hit the ball like the same old Cecil Cooper. Even though his average has been down (.197 before Friday), his run production has still been good.”

Cooper thinks he can still get the job done defensively, but he had a little talk with Reggie Jackson in Milwaukee last week and says the conversation helped him accept his new role.

“We talked and I guess I’ve resigned myself to helping the club the only way they’ll let me,” Cooper said. “I feel like I can still play defense and I’m not thrilled by just being the DH.

“Nobody’s officially told me I won’t be playing in the field anymore, but it seems like that’s going to be my job for a while.”

It’s a position Cooper--replete with a lifetime .303 batting average--is ultimately qualified to fill. And with his textbook swing back in order, he should be doing a number on American League pitchers and compiling some more offensive numbers in the process.

“I’ve sort of had to have my spring during the first part of the season, and I feel like I’ve got my swing back. Now, if I can just lock it in . . . “