MLB

Former Yankee infielder, broadcaster Coleman dies

Jerry Coleman, who played for four World Series winning teams with the Yankees, died Sunday at age 89, the Padres announced.

A former infielder and colorful broadcaster, Coleman spent 41 years in the Padres radio booth. He also called games alongside Phil Rizzuto in the Yankees booth from 1963-69.

Coleman, a U.S. Marine, was the only major league player to see combat in two wars. He flew 57 missions in the Pacific theater in World War II and another 60 over Korea, which included surviving a crash.

“My family was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jerry Coleman,” Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “First and foremost, he was an American hero whose service to this country is his lasting legacy. He was also a great Yankee, a true ambassador for baseball and someone whose imprint on our game will be felt for generations. On behalf of the entire New York Yankees organization, we send our deepest condolences to the Coleman family.”

Coleman hit .263 with 16 homers and 217 RBIs over nine major league seasons, all with the Yankees. He was third in the 1949 Rookie of the Year voting and was named to his only All-Star team the following year.

Primarily a second baseman, Coleman won the Babe Ruth award as the MVP in the Yankees’ sweep of the Phillies in the 1950 World Series, hitting .286 with three RBIs. He was also part of the Yankees’ world championship teams in 1949, ‘51 and ‘56.

Following his retirement, Coleman broadcast games for the Yankees, Angels and Padres. He received the Ford C. Frick award in 2005 for broadcasting excellence, earning him a spot in the broadcasters’ wing of the Hall of Fame. Coleman spent the 1980 season as Padres manager, leading the team to a 73-89 record before returning to the broadcast booth.

Coleman was regarded as the master of the malprop on the airwaves. Among his famous calls: “[Dave] Winfield goes back to the wall, he hits his head on the wall, and it rolls off! It’s rolling all the way back to second base. This is a terrible thing for the Padres.”

More vintage Coleman: “He slides into second with a stand-up double.”