Steve Cooper, North County MSBL Veteran, Dies at 75

Submitted by Jim McArdle, Friend and Teammate

Steve Cooper, a resident of Carlsbad, California, died June 27, 2025, following a fall at home. He was 75 and is survived by his wife Trilby and son David. Steve played for a number of teams in North County San Diego MSBL, advancing through the age brackets, and competed in numerous tournaments locally and nationally.

He was a member of the 2010 MSBL World Series Champion North County Mudcats and the 2013 Roy Hobbs AAAA World Series Champion Nor Cal Giants and won awards at other local and national tournaments. Coop played varsity baseball at UC San Diego, where he had lots of playing time at first base and as a pitcher.

Coop earned a PhD in Chemistry from UC Berkeley, was appointed assistant professor at Harvard, promoted to associate professor there, and then took a position as full professor at Oxford University, UK. He came back to the United States to work in industry, then spent his later years in Carlsbad as an independent consultant until his retirement.

Even in declining health, he still regularly attended weekly batting practice, which he helped found and organize, and which is now a Carlsbad institution for many of his baseball buddies. His sharp wit never faded, and he never failed to offer greetings and encouragement.  He will be missed.