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Joe Coleman (baseball, born 1947)

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Joseph Howard Coleman (born February 3, 1947) is an American former baseball player. He played professional baseball as a pitcher from 1965 to 1982, including 15 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Washington Senators (1965–70), Detroit Tigers (1971–76), Chicago Cubs (1976), Oakland Athletics (1977–78), Toronto Blue Jays (1978), San Francisco Giants (1979) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1979). He compiled a 142–135 win–loss record and 3.70 earned run average (ERA) in 484 major league games.

Joe Coleman
Coleman in 1975
Pitcher
Born: (1947-02-03) February 3, 1947 (age 77)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 28, 1965, for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
September 24, 1979, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Win–loss record142–135
Earned run average3.70
Strikeouts1,728
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Coleman averaged more than 20 wins per season from 1971 to 1973. He recorded 236 strikeouts in 1971, third best in the American League, was selected to the American League All-Star team in 1972, and recorded 23 wins in 1973, second highest in the American League.

Coleman is the son of former major league pitcher Joe Coleman and the father of former major league pitcher Casey Coleman.

Early years

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Coleman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1947. His father, Joe Coleman (Joseph Patrick Coleman), was a pitcher in Major League Baseball between 1942 and 1955.[1][2] Coleman attended Natick High School in Natick, Massachusetts.[3] In high school, Coleman was considered "an overpowering pitcher" who was "watched enviously by major league scouts."[2] He also attended Ted Williams' baseball camp in Lakeville, Massachusetts, while attending high school.[2] Williams reportedly taught Coleman how to throw a curve ball at his camp, and why it curved.[4]

Playing career

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Washington Senators

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In June 1965, Coleman was drafted out of high school by the Washington Senators in the first round (third overall pick) of the 1965 Major League Baseball draft, baseball's first amateur draft.[3] Coleman was represented in contract negotiations by his father, who reportedly secured a club record signing bonus of $75,000 for Coleman.[5]

After a 12-game stint with the Burlington Senators in the Carolina League, Coleman made his Major League Baseball debut at age 18, less than four months after graduating from high school, on September 28, 1965, throwing a four-hitter against the Kansas City Athletics and pitched two complete game victories in the final week of the 1965 season.[6][7] He compiled a 2–0 record and a 1.00 ERA, and was the youngest player in the American League at the time of his big league debut.[3] After the 1965 season concluded, Coleman and his father opened a store in Natick, Massachusetts known as Joe Coleman & Son Sporting Goods.[2]

Coleman spent most of the 1966 season with the York White Roses in the Eastern League, compiling a 7–19 record in 32 games.[8] In 1967, Coleman won a spot in the Senators' starting rotation, appeared in 28 games, and compiled an 8–9 record with a 4.63 ERA.[3] He remained in the Senators' starting rotation for an additional three years, compiling records of 12–16 with a 3.27 ERA in 1968, 12–13 with a 3.27 ERA in 1969, and 8–12 with a 3.58 ERA in 1970.[3]

Detroit Tigers

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On October 9, 1970, Coleman was part of a multi-player deal that sent Coleman, Ed Brinkman, Jim Hannan and Aurelio Rodriguez to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Denny McLain, Elliott Maddox, Norm McRae and Don Wert.[3] On March 27, 1971, Coleman was knocked unconscious by a line drive hit by Ted Simmons of the St. Louis Cardinals during a spring training game.[9] Coleman sustained a linear skull fracture, was hospitalized for two weeks, and remained on the disabled list for 21 days before joining the Tigers in May 1971.[10] Coleman had a 7–6 record on July 4, 1971, but he finished the season with a 13–3 record from that point forward.[11][12] During the 1971 season, Coleman compiled a 20–9 record and a 3.15 ERA while recording 16 complete games. His 236 strikeouts in 1971 was a career high and ranked third in the American League behind Mickey Lolich and Vida Blue.[13]

Coleman had another strong season in 1972, compiling a 19–14 record with a 2.80 ERA and 222 strikeouts in 280 innings pitched.[3] He was selected to play for the American League in the 1972 All-Star Game, though he did not appear in the game due to injury. Coleman's father appeared in the 1948 All-Star Game, making the Colemans the first father and son to be chosen to pitch in an All-Star Game.[14] Coleman also helped the Tigers win the American League Eastern Division. In Game 3 of the 1972 American League Championship Series, with the Tigers facing elimination after losing Games 1 and 2, Coleman threw a complete-game shutout against the Oakland Athletics and set an ALCS record with 14 strikeouts in a single game.[15][16] (Coleman's ALCS record broke a record of 12 set by Jim Palmer in 1972, was later tied by Mike Boddicker in 1983 and was broken by Mike Mussina in 1997.)

Prior to the start of the 1973 season, Coleman went on a diet and lost 25 pounds, dropping from 226 to 201 pounds. The trimmer Coleman won the first four starts of the 1973 season.[17] Despite a down season for the Tigers team, Coleman posted a career-high 23 wins, second in the American League behind Wilbur Wood's 24 wins.[18]

In his first three seasons with the Tigers, Coleman compiled a win–loss record of 62–38 and pitched 38 complete games with a 3.16 ERA and 660 strikeouts.[3] Only four American League pitchers – Wilbur Wood (70), Jim Palmer (63), Mickey Lolich (63), and Catfish Hunter (63) – had more wins than Coleman over those same three years.[19] Coleman credited much of his success from 1971 to 1973 to the confidence instilled in him by Detroit manager Billy Martin.[19][20]

In 1974, Detroit had a new manager, Ralph Houk.

On April 11, 1974, Coleman lost a bid for a no-hitter in the eighth inning when Gene Michael of the New York Yankees hit a one-out single.[21] By May 15, 1974, Coleman had a 6–1 record and appeared to be on track for the best season of his career. However, he did not win another game for two months, and his performance dropped off markedly. He finished the 1974 season with a 14–12 record and a 4.32 ERA in 41 starts. He walked an astounding 158 batters in 1974 (a Tigers single-season record) for a career high rate of 5.0/9 IP.[3] At the end of the 1974 season, Coleman said: "It was really strange. My arm felt better than it ever had before in my life. But I couldn't do it. It was just one of those crazy things. At times I didn't have any idea what I was doing out there."[22]

In 1975, Coleman's performance declined further, as he compiled a 10–18 record with a 5.55 ERA. In 1976, Coleman started 12 games for Detroit in the first two months of the season, posting a 2–5 record with a 4.86 ERA.[3]

Chicago Cubs

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On June 8, 1976, the Chicago Cubs acquired Coleman by waiver purchase from the Tigers.[23] The Cubs used Coleman principally as a relief pitcher. He appeared in 39 games for the Cubs, all but four in relief, and compiled a 2–8 record with a 4.10 ERA.[3]

Oakland Athletics

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On March 15, 1977, the Cubs traded Coleman to the Oakland Athletics for pitcher Jim Todd.[3] Oakland owner Charlie Finley released Coleman in the spring, but then reversed the decision after being told Coleman had a two-year contract that would have to be paid.[24][25] Coleman rebounded during the 1977 season with the assistance of a hypnotist. In addition to the skull fracture sustained in 1971, Coleman had been hit by line drives 10 or 12 times in 1974. Chicago coaches noticed in 1976 that Coleman was recoiling immediately after throwing each pitch. Coleman recalled, "I went to see a Catholic priest who doubles as a hypnotist. He put me under seven times in four days. After that, I didn't have any fear of getting hit, and my control was better."[24]

Coleman appeared in 43 games for the Athletics in 1977, including 12 games as a starting pitcher. He compiled a 4–4 record with a much-improved 2.96 ERA.[3] He was one of only 10 American League pitchers in 1977 to compile over 100 innings pitched and maintain an ERA under 3.00.[25]

Prior to the 1978 season, Oakland owner Finley again sought to discard Coleman, asking him to report to the Athletics' minor league club in Vancouver. Coleman refused and compiled a 3–0 record and a 0.00 ERA in his first eight appearances of the 1978 season.[25] Coleman had a 1.37 ERA when he was sold by Oakland to the Toronto Blue Jays for the waiver price of $10,000. Finley reportedly "blew his top" after Coleman gave up a home run to Chicago's Lamar Johnson. Bobby Winkles resigned as Oakland's manager after Finley's impulsive decision to sell the club's most effective relief pitcher.[26] Days later, Finley offered to buy Coleman back from Toronto for double the price Toronto had paid. Blue Jays' president, Peter Bavasi, declined Finley's proposal, suspecting that Finley had found another team prepared to pay more for Coleman. Coleman noted at the time that he was happy to escape Finley.[27] After his bid to reacquire Coleman was rejected, Finley claimed he had only wanted to reacquire Coleman to trade him to Pittsburgh and lashed out at Coleman: "He's a very fine old man, but all he does is throw that slop up there. Maybe he can do all right. He doesn't throw hard enough now to break a pane of glass. He was spending his spare time trying to teach our young guys to pitch. How can he do that when he can't pitch himself?"[28]

Toronto Blue Jays

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Shortly after arriving in Toronto, Coleman met with club president, Peter Bavasi. Despite having rejected Finley's bid to reacquire Coleman, Bavasi informed Coleman that he did not fit into the Blue Jays' plans. Coleman recalled, "It was a shock to me. I didn't know why I was here. He didn't want to get into a contract situation with me that would take up a spot of one of the younger kids."[25] Despite not fitting into the Blue Jays' plans, Coleman compiled a 2–0 record in 31 relief appearances for the club. He finished the full 1978 season with an unbeaten 5–0 record.[3]

San Francisco Giants

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After a strong 1978 season, Coleman announced in late October 1978 that he would not return to Toronto and that he intended to become a free agent. He said at the time, "I've regained some of my confidence and probably I'm in the best shape I've ever been."[29] Coleman signed with the San Francisco Giants on April 1, 1979. After five relief appearances with the Giants, and despite not allowing an earned run, Coleman was released on April 21, 1979.[3]

Pittsburgh Pirates

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After being released by the Giants, Coleman signed in May 1979 with the Portland Beavers, the Pittsburgh Pirates' Triple A affiliate in the Pacific Coast League.[30] Coleman compiled a 5–1 record and a 2.78 ERA in 31 games for Portland from May to July 1979.[8][31] In mid-July 1979, the Pirates purchased Coleman from the Beavers.[31] During the Pirates' pennant drive in the second half of the 1979 season, Coleman made 10 relief appearances and compiled a 6.10 ERA in 20+2⁄3 innings pitched. Although the 1979 Pirates advanced to win the 1979 World Series, Coleman did not appear in any post-season games. He appeared in his final major league game on September 24, 1979.[3]

Spokane Indians

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Coleman's major league career ended with the Pirates in 1979.[3] However, he continued to play in the Pacific Coast League for the Spokane Indians from 1980 to 1982. Pitching principally in relief, Coleman compiled a 4–2 record in 40 games for Spokane.[8] He also served as Spokane's catcher for one game in 1980, allowing all three base-runners to steal second base. After Coleman's catching debut, club manager Rene Lachemann joked, "He (Joe) did an adequate job of catching, but not of throwing."[32] During his time with Spokane, Coleman also served as the club's pitching coach and helped coach the University of Washington baseball team.[33]

Career totals

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In 15 major league seasons, Coleman appeared in 484 games (340 as a starter), pitched 2,569+1⁄3 innings and compiled a 142–135 win–loss record with 234 home runs and 1,003 walks allowed, 1,728 strikeouts, 90 hit batsmen, 118 wild pitches and a 3.70 career ERA.[3]

Coaching career

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Coleman served as a coach in various organizations, beginning with his service as pitching coach for the Spokane Indians. The Spokane club was an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners in 1980 and 1981, but became an affiliate of the California Angels in 1982. In 1983, the Spokane club disbanded, and the Angels gave Coleman a choice of taking over as pitching coach in Edmonton or becoming the manager of the Peoria Suns, the Angels' newly organized Single A affiliate. Coleman chose the managerial position in Peoria. Coleman joked about the foibles of his young players after arriving in Peoria:

"One game, my right fielder dropped a fly ball. The runner was on third by the time he gets to the ball, but he launches it and it lands in the left field corner at the foul pole. . . . Some crazy things have happened, but it's constant. I go to the ballpark every day and expect something crazy to happen that day."[34]

Coleman continued to serve in the Angels' organization for several years after his stint in Peoria. In 1987, he was the organization's roving minor-league pitching instructor, and in 1988 he joined the Angels' major league staff as bullpen coach.[35]

In 1991, Coleman left the Angels to become the pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals under manager Joe Torre. He served in that position through the 1994 season. In October 1994, the Cardinals opted not to renew Coleman's contract in a front office shakeup that also saw the arrival of a new general manager and the departure of Bucky Dent as the club's third-base coach.[36]

In 1996, Coleman returned to the Angels' organization. He served initially as a scout and then took over as the club's pitching coach for the last two months of the 1996 season. He was named bullpen coach for the 1997 season.[37] He continued to serve as the Angels' bullpen coach through the 2000 season. In 2001, Coleman was hired as the pitching coach for the Durham Bulls, the Triple A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.[38] In 2007, Coleman left Durham and became the pitching coach of the Lakeland Flying Tigers, the Class A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. He remained in that position until September 2011.[39] Since 2012, Coleman has been the pitching coach for the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Class A affiliate of the Florida Marlins.[40] The 2014 season marked Coleman's 50th year working in professional baseball as a player, scout, coach, instructor or manager.

Family

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In 1982, Coleman met his future wife, Donna, after moving to Fort Myers, Florida.[41] Their son, Casey Coleman, was born in Fort Myers in 1987 and pitched in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs from 2010 to 2012 and for the Kansas City Royals in 2014.[42]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Joe Coleman (Joseph Patrick Coleman) Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Larry Claflin (January 29, 1966). "Like Father, Like Son In Coleman Clan: Young Joe's Slab Future Very Bright". The Sporting News. pp. 3–4.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Joe Coleman Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  4. ^ Dick Couch (March 25, 1969). "Joe Coleman Demonstrates Effects of Ted's Theories". Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Virginia (AP story). p. 10.
  5. ^ Bob Addie (July 10, 1965). "Tightwad Nats? Coleman Costs Them $75,000". The Sporting News. p. 22.
  6. ^ "New Joe Coleman Opens With Four Hitter". The Palm Beach Post (AP story). September 28, 1965. p. 15.
  7. ^ Bob Addie (October 16, 1965). "Kid Hurler Coleman Pops Nats' Eyeballs With 2 Route Jobs". The Sporting News. p. 20.
  8. ^ a b c "Joe Coleman Minor League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "Detroit Pitcher Joe Coleman On Ground After Being Knocked Out By Line Drive". The Palm Beach Post. March 28, 1971.
  10. ^ Watson Spoelstra (May 15, 1971). "Coleman Back, Shows No Sign of Shock". The Sporting News. p. 7.
  11. ^ Watson Spoelstra (July 1, 1972). "Coleman Revving Up For Second Half Surge". The Sporting News. p. 7.
  12. ^ Watson Spoelstra (October 2, 1971). "Strong Finish Stamps Coleman as '72 Tiger Hill Ace". The Sporting News. p. 13.
  13. ^ "1971 American League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  14. ^ "Griffeys can claim baseball's best bloodline – for now". The Sporting News. July 27, 1992. p. 15.
  15. ^ Watson Spoelstra (October 28, 1972). "Tigers Coleman Makes Critics Eat Words". The Sporting News. p. 21.
  16. ^ Larry Paladino (October 11, 1972). "Joe Coleman Has Record 14 Strikeouts As Detroit Staves Off Extinction". Gettysburg Times. p. 17.
  17. ^ Jim Hawkins (May 12, 1973). "Fat-Free Coleman Gives Bulge to Tiger Wins". The Sporting News. p. 21.
  18. ^ "1973 American League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  19. ^ a b Jim Hawkins (May 4, 1974). "Coleman Golf Cutback Improves 'Short' Game". The Sporting News. p. 12.
  20. ^ Jim Hawkins (June 16, 1973). "Coleman Cools Temper and Heats Up Pitches". The Sporting News. p. 3.
  21. ^ "Coleman Comes Close". The Sporting News. April 27, 1974. p. 34.
  22. ^ Jim Hawkins (May 24, 1975). "Weather Whammy Takes Toll of Coleman". The Sporting News. p. 11.
  23. ^ Richard Dozer (June 26, 1976). "Stumbling Cubs Put Skipper Marshall in Jeopardy". The Sporting News. p. 16.
  24. ^ a b Tom Weir (July 23, 1977). "Coleman Like Lantern To A's Firemen". The Sporting News. p. 35.
  25. ^ a b c d Tom Weir (June 3, 1978). "Coleman Enjoys Last Chuckle on Charlie". The Sporting News. p. 7.
  26. ^ "Winkles Turned the Tables on Finley". The Hour. May 25, 1978. p. 33.
  27. ^ "Finley Wants Coleman Back". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. May 27, 1978. p. 2C.
  28. ^ "Finley Explains Move to Get Coleman Back". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 31, 1978. p. 37.
  29. ^ Neil MacCarl (October 28, 1978). "Coleman Parting From Blue Jays". The Sporting News. p. 15.
  30. ^ "Sports Digest". The Spokesman-Review. May 10, 1979. p. 40.
  31. ^ a b "Pirates Purchase Pitcher Coleman". The Pittsburgh Press. July 17, 1979. p. B3.
  32. ^ "Great finish pleasant for Indians". Spokane Daily Chronicle. September 1, 1980. p. 15.
  33. ^ "Pape or Coleman? New skipper debuts". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 7, 1981. p. 37.
  34. ^ John Blanchette (June 1, 1983). "Baseball will play in Peoria -- but can the players?". The Spokesman Review. p. C1.
  35. ^ "Coleman joins Angels' staff". The Spokesman-Review. October 31, 1987. p. B3.
  36. ^ "Torre survives with Cardinals". Southeast Missourian. October 26, 1994. p. B1.
  37. ^ "Parker, Bowa join Angeles". Southeast Missourian. November 28, 1996. p. 3B.
  38. ^ "Pitchers, especially lefties, catch a break from the wind". Toledo Blade. April 13, 2001. p. C4.
  39. ^ John Lowe (September 1, 2011). "Tigers won't bring back Joe Coleman as Lakeland pitching coach". Detroit Free Press.
  40. ^ Joe Capozzi (January 19, 2012). "Andy Haines promoted to manage Marlins' Class A Jupiter Hammerheads; Joe Coleman named pitching coach". Palm Beach Post.
  41. ^ David Driver (December 8, 2010). "Coleman born to pitch: Pitching may run in family, but mom, Maddux helped in success". Vine Line. Chicago Cubs. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016.
  42. ^ "Casey Coleman Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
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Preceded by California Angels bullpen coach
1987–1990 		Succeeded by
Preceded by St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach
1991–1994 		Succeeded by
Preceded by California/Anaheim Angels pitching coach
1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Anaheim Angels Bullpen Coach
1997–1999 		Succeeded by
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