Three Generations at Home Plate: One Softball Umpire’s Unforgettable Friday Night

Jim Cooper‘s Friday was one to remember.

Cooper, a veteran softball umpire, is no stranger to calling balls and strikes. He called some of college softball’s biggest matchups during the 2022 season and officiated in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, including the Super Regionals, this year.

Last Friday, Cooper put his skills to work in a unique – and unforgettable –  way.

There are three generations of Coopers in the photo above – Jim, son Brad, and grandson Carter. The occasion? A 40th birthday-celebration ‘Old Timers’ baseball game for a friend of Brad Cooper’s.

Carter, age 11 and catching, took part to help field two complete teams for the game. Formerly a baseball umpire himself, Jim called balls and strikes for the affair.

“Carter shares my love of being on the ball diamond,” Jim Cooper said. “I was extremely proud of the way he played, catching an adult pitcher. His team won, he got a hit off of his dad, and he never allowed a ball to hit me, despite a lot of wild pitches.”

“Since I was a little boy, I’ve had some of the best times of my life on the ball field,” the veteran game-caller & proud dad and grandpa added. “[Friday] night will have to go down as one of my best memories ever.”