Jerry Coleman

From SoSH

Gerald Francis Coleman (b. September 14, 1924) is a former major league second baseman and the radio play-by-play announer for the San Diego Padres.

Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Broadcasting Biography 3 Jerry Coleman Malapropisms 4 Trivia 5 Further Reading

Playing Career

Coleman played nine seasons with the Yankees, primarily as a second baseman, but also with a significant amount of time at shortstop and some time at third base. After six years in the minor leagues, he hit .275 with two home runs and 42 runs batted in, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting. He hit .286 the next season with 6 home runs and 69 runs batted in, earning him a spot on the All-Star Team. He hit .286 with a double and three runs batted in during that year's World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, winning the Babe Ruth Award for his performance. That was where he peaked, however; he played largely part-time after that season and only once did he have a season with 100 or more at-bats and an OPS over the league average, which was in his final season. He did hit .364/.440/.455 with two doubles and eight runs batted in as the Yankees lost the 1957 World Series to the Milwaukee Braves.

Broadcasting Biography

Coleman began working for CBS in 1960. In 1963, he began a seven-year stint as a broadcaster for the Yankees, even having the privilege of calling the 500th home run of former teammate Mickey Mantle. He briefly worked for the California Angels before becoming the lead announcer for the San Diego Padres in 1972, a position he has held every year except 1980, when the Padres hired him to manage. He also called postseason games for CBS Radio from the mid-1970s to the 1990s.

Coleman is wildly popular despite his frequent on-air mistakes (see below), most of which are simply entertaining rather than embarrassing. He is believed to be the oldest active play-by-play announcer in the majors, three years older than Los Angeles Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, and is signed with the Padres through 2009.

In 2005, Coleman received the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2007.

Jerry Coleman Malapropisms

Just a small sampling of weird things to fly out of Jerry Coleman's mouth...

• "They throw Winfield out at second, but he's safe."
• "Houston has its largest crowd of the night here this evening."
• "Montreal leads Atlanta by three, 5-1."
• "The first pitch to Tucker Ashford is grounded into left field. No, wait a minute. It's ball one. Low and outside."
• "He has a little pizzazz. I like that word pizzazz. I don't know what it means, but I like it."
• "Reggie Smith of the Dodgers and Gary Matthews of the homers hit Braves in that game."
• "Hi, folks, I'm Jerry Reuss. No, I'm not, I'm Jerry Coleman."

Trivia

• Coleman's catchphrase "Oh, doctor!" is borrowed from longtime Dodgers announcer Red Barber.
• Coleman served as a Marine aviator in World War II and the Korean War. He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 13 Air Medals, and three Navy Citations. He is the only major league player to see combat in two wars.

Further Reading

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
• Jerry Coleman's biography at padres.com
• Jerry Coleman's biography at the Baseball Hall of Fame website
• Jerry Coleman Malaprop Corner - BaseballAlmanac.com
• Jerry Coleman's military biography