Cecil Cooper

Coop comments.

MILWAUKEE -- The news that Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski underwent triple bypass surgery Tuesday night was a shock to baseball figures around the country, including Astros manager Cecil Cooper, who played with "Yaz" in Boston for six years from 1971-76 ...

"Tremendous competitor," Cooper said of Yastrzemski. "I liken that to a [Craig] Biggio kind of character. He played hard every day -- was very, very competitive. He'd dial up the intensity when he needed to. And a good guy -- you hate for him to be going through what he's going through."

Triple Bypass

Yaz starting down the road to recovery.

BALTIMORE - One day after being taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with pain and tightness in his chest, Red Sox [team stats] great Carl Yastrzemski underwent successful triple bypass surgery last night, the player’s longtime spokesman said.

According to Dick Gordon, Yastrzemski, who turns 69 Friday, made it through the estimated six-hour procedure -- with two hours of prep time -- without any apparent difficulty and completed surgery shortly after 8 p.m. Gordon did not provide a timetable for Yastrzemski’s recovery, but expressed relief and thanks on behalf of the slugger’s family for the prayers and support.

“Everything’s fine. He had a triple bypass and he’s fine,” Gordon said. “He’s in recovery right now. ”

“He didn’t have a heart attack,” Gordon continued. “He came here (Monday) and, after some tests and some evaluations, it was determined he needed bypass surgery.”

Yaz in Hospital

Get better soon.

BOSTON (AP) — Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, the last player to hit for the Triple Crown, was hospitalized for tests Tuesday after experiencing chest pains. The Boston Red Sox confirmed the 68-year-old Yastrzemski was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital and was undergoing evaluation and testing. The team said no further information was immediately available on its longtime great.

Asked whether it was serious, Yastrzemski spokesman Dick Gordon said: "Any time you are in the hospital, it's got to be pretty serious."