Jerry Coleman Baseball player, analyst Date of Birth: 14.09.1924 Country: USA

1. Biography of Jerry Coleman
2. Early Career
3. Professional Achievements
4. Military Service
5. End of Baseball Career
6. Transition to Sports Analyst
7. Career as a Sports Analyst

Biography of Jerry Coleman

Jerry Coleman is a former American baseball player and current radio and television sports analyst. He was born in San Jose, California. After completing high school, Coleman joined the New York Yankees, where he played until the end of his sports career.

Early Career

Coleman spent six years in the minor leagues before moving up to the next level in 1949. In his first year, Coleman achieved a batting average of .275, making him the best second baseman in terms of hitting statistics. He was named the Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press in 1949.

Professional Achievements

In 1950, Coleman was selected to the All-Star team after a successful second season. He also had an outstanding performance in the World Series, earning him the Babe Ruth Award as the Most Valuable Player of the series. Among his peers, Coleman was known as "The Colonel," although he only held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Military Service

Despite his successful baseball career, Coleman interrupted it to serve in both World War II and the Korean War. He served in the Marine Corps and participated in 120 combat operations, receiving several awards and medals. He is the only Major League Baseball player to have served in both wars.

End of Baseball Career

Coleman's baseball career came to an end due to a serious injury he suffered on the field, rather than during his military service. After being sidelined, he was eventually placed on the bench by the team management and decided to retire from baseball after the 1957 season. He ended his career with an impressive batting average of .364.

Transition to Sports Analyst

In 1958, Coleman was appointed as the head of player personnel by the general manager of the New York Yankees, George Weiss. However, his position was later taken away by the new manager, Roy Hamey. Undeterred, Coleman transitioned to become a sports analyst for CBS in 1960. He faced some controversy when he ignored the national anthem during an interview, but he managed to keep his position.

Career as a Sports Analyst

In 1963, Coleman began a seven-year series of game reviews for his former team on radio WCBS and television channel WPIX. He went on to review games for the California Angels in 1970 and became a commentator for the San Diego Padres for eight years starting in 1972. He even served as the manager of the Padres for a period of time. Currently, Coleman is one of the oldest and most experienced sports analysts in the country and the world.