Bob Coleman
Encyclopedia
Robert Hunter Coleman was an American
catcher
, coach
and manager
in Major League Baseball
. He also was one of the most successful managers in the history of minor league baseball
, his career extending (with interruptions caused by major league service) from 1919 through 1957.
A native of Huntingburg, Indiana
, Coleman played just three seasons in the major leagues, with the Pittsburgh Pirates
(1913–14) and the Cleveland Indians
(1916). The right-handed-hitting catcher batted
.241 in 116 total games.
In 1919, at age 28, he embarked on his managerial career with the Mobile Bears
of the Class A Southern Association
. By 1926
he was a coach for the Boston Red Sox
, but the following season he returned to the minor leagues, and in 1928 he became manager of the Evansville Hubs of the Class B Three-I League, where he would spend much of the rest of his baseball career. He managed Evansville for 20 seasons over four separate tours of duty (1928–31; 1938–42; 1946–49; 1951–57), and won eight pennants there, including his final season.
Coleman made it back to the majors as a coach with the Detroit Tigers
in 1932
, and the Boston Braves
in 1943
. During the latter season, his boss, manager Casey Stengel
, was hit by a taxicab as he tried to cross a Boston street and suffered a broken leg. Coleman stepped in for 46 games while Stengel recovered (the Braves winning 21). At season's end, Casey was fired and Coleman was named permanent manager of the Braves for 1944
. But the wartime Braves were not contenders and after a sixth-place 1944 finish was followed by a sluggish start to 1945
, Coleman was replaced by one of his coaches, Del Bissonette
. His final record as a major league manager was 128-165 (.437).
He then returned to Evansville as manager of the Evansville Braves
, a Boston farm team
, and resumed his minor league career. In 35 seasons as a minor league skipper, Coleman's teams won 2,496 games and lost 2,103 (.543).
He died in Boston at age 68 of cancer
in 1959.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He also was one of the most successful managers in the history of minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, his career extending (with interruptions caused by major league service) from 1919 through 1957.
A native of Huntingburg, Indiana
Huntingburg, Indiana
-Notable people:* Baseball pitcher Alex Graman was born in Huntingburg.* Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Mitch Stetter was born and raised in Huntingburg.* Retired professional basketball player Don Buse was born in Huntingburg.* Gordon St...
, Coleman played just three seasons in the major leagues, with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1913–14) and the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1916). The right-handed-hitting catcher batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.241 in 116 total games.
In 1919, at age 28, he embarked on his managerial career with the Mobile Bears
Mobile Bears
The Mobile Bears were an American minor league baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama. The franchise was a member of the old Southern Association, a high-level circuit that folded after the 1961 season. Mobile joined the SA in 1908 as the Sea Gulls, but changed its name to the Bears in 1918, and...
of the Class A Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
. By 1926
1926 in sports
-American football:NFL championship* Frankford Yellow Jackets win the National Football League championship with a league record of 14–1–1College championship...
he was a coach for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, but the following season he returned to the minor leagues, and in 1928 he became manager of the Evansville Hubs of the Class B Three-I League, where he would spend much of the rest of his baseball career. He managed Evansville for 20 seasons over four separate tours of duty (1928–31; 1938–42; 1946–49; 1951–57), and won eight pennants there, including his final season.
Coleman made it back to the majors as a coach with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1932
1932 in sports
-Alpine skiing:FIS Alpine World Ski Championships2nd FIS Alpine World Ski Championships are held at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The events are a downhill, a slalom and a combined race in both the men's and women's categories...
, and the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in 1943
1943 in sports
1943 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War II-American football:* Chicago Bears win 41-26 over Washington Redskins in the NFL championship game in Chicago...
. During the latter season, his boss, manager Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
, was hit by a taxicab as he tried to cross a Boston street and suffered a broken leg. Coleman stepped in for 46 games while Stengel recovered (the Braves winning 21). At season's end, Casey was fired and Coleman was named permanent manager of the Braves for 1944
1944 in sports
1944 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War II-American football:* Green Bay Packers defeats 14-7 New York Giants in New York City for the NFL title...
. But the wartime Braves were not contenders and after a sixth-place 1944 finish was followed by a sluggish start to 1945
1945 in sports
1945 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War II-American football:...
, Coleman was replaced by one of his coaches, Del Bissonette
Del Bissonette
Adelphia Louis Bissonette was an American first baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball.Born in Winthrop, Maine, Bissonette attended Westbrook Seminary, the University of New Hampshire and Georgetown University before signing a professional baseball contract with Valleyfield-Cap de la...
. His final record as a major league manager was 128-165 (.437).
He then returned to Evansville as manager of the Evansville Braves
Evansville Braves
The Evansville Braves were a professional minor league baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana. They played from 1946 to 1957 in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League . They played home games at Bosse Field, which is currently the third oldest baseball stadium in regular use in the United States...
, a Boston farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
, and resumed his minor league career. In 35 seasons as a minor league skipper, Coleman's teams won 2,496 games and lost 2,103 (.543).
He died in Boston at age 68 of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1959.