MLB Pitcher **Joe Coleman** Dies at 78
Former Detroit Tigers All-Star pitcher **Joe Coleman**, who achieved significant success in a 15-season Major League Baseball career, passed away Wednesday morning at the age of 78. His son, **Casey Coleman**, confirmed that his father died in his sleep in Jamestown, Tennessee.
Early Career and Draft Success
**Coleman**, both the son and father of major leaguers, made history as the No. 3 overall pick in baseball’s very first amateur draft back in 1965, chosen by the Washington Senators. His father, also named **Joe**, who pitched in the majors from 1942-55, negotiated a then-club-record signing bonus of $75,000.
Standing tall at 6-foot-3 and weighing 175 pounds, **Coleman** quickly ascended to the majors, becoming the first player drafted to reach the big leagues, debuting for the Senators on September 28, 1965. In his debut, he pitched a stellar four-hitter, leading his team to a 6-1 victory against the Kansas City Athletics.
Tigers Stardom and All-Star Nod
After the 1970 season concluded, **Coleman** was traded to the Detroit Tigers in a deal that sent **Denny McLain** to Washington. From 1971 to 1976, he achieved his greatest success with the Tigers, racking up an impressive 88-73 record along with a 3.82 ERA.
In 1971, after recovering from a skull fracture that sidelined him for two weeks, he posted a remarkable 20-9 record, complemented by a 3.15 ERA. The following season, he earned an All-Star selection and also made his sole postseason appearance, where he set a then-playoff record by striking out 14 batters in a shutout victory over the Oakland Athletics in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.
Despite **Coleman’s** dominant performance, the Tigers fell short, losing the series 3-2, and Oakland proceeded to defeat Cincinnati in the World Series.
For a quarter of a century, **Coleman’s** strikeout record stood untouched, until **Mike Mussina** of Baltimore surpassed it with 15 strikeouts in the 1997 ALCS against Cleveland.
Later Career and Coaching
**Coleman** also spent time pitching for the Chicago Cubs, Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He concluded his major league career with 10 relief appearances for the 1979 Pirates, who went on to win the World Series that year.
Throughout his career, **Coleman** maintained a 142-135 record, a 3.70 ERA, and an impressive 1,728 strikeouts in 484 appearances, which included 340 starts.
After retiring from playing, **Coleman** transitioned to coaching, working as a pitching and bullpen coach for the California and Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, and Seattle Mariners, in addition to several minor-league teams.
“He was a good man with a really good heart. Everywhere I went in professional baseball, I met pitchers he coached. Many gave him credit for making it to the big leagues.”—Casey Coleman, Son
**Casey Coleman** himself pitched in 58 major league games for the Cubs and Kansas City between 2010 and 2014.
Notably, research indicates that MLB pitchers who transition into coaching roles often contribute significantly to developing young talent and improving team performance (MLB.com).
Personal Life
Born in Boston, **Joe Coleman** graduated from Natick High. He honed his skills at **Ted Williams’s** baseball camps, where he learned the art of throwing a curveball and slider.
In addition to **Casey**, **Coleman** is survived by his wife, **Donna**, daughter, **Kristen**, and three grandchildren.
