Joe Coleman, a notable figure in major league baseball history, passed away in his sleep on Wednesday morning, July 9, 2025, at his home in Jamestown, Tennessee. He was 78.
Coleman’s son, Casey, confirmed his father’s passing, stating that he died peacefully. Coleman, a right-handed pitcher, won 142 games during a 15-year major league career and was named an American League All-Star in 1972 while with the Detroit Tigers.
Coleman was the third overall pick in the inaugural amateur draft by Washington in 1965. His father, also named Joe Coleman, pitched professionally from 1942 to 1955 and secured a $75,000 signing bonus for him.
At 6 feet 3 inches and 175 pounds, Coleman became the first drafted player to make it to the major leagues. He debuted on September 28, 1965, pitching a complete game and defeating Kansas City 6-1. Born on February 3, 1947, in Boston, Massachusetts, Coleman graduated from Natick High School before beginning his professional career.
He honed his skills at Ted Williams’ instructional camps in Lakeville, Massachusetts, learning the curveball and slider. He participated in these camps during high school and played in the Hearst Sandlot Classic at Yankee Stadium in 1964.
Coleman started with a brief stint in the Carolina League with Burlington before making his major league debut at 18, just three months after graduating high school. In the final week of the 1965 season, he earned two complete-game wins, finishing with a 2-0 record and a 1.00 ERA.
Coleman played for Washington from 1965 to 1970. In 1969, managed by Ted Williams, he led the team in several categories, including 36 starts, 247⅔ innings pitched, 12 complete games, and four shutouts, with a 12-13 record.
After the 1970 season, Detroit acquired Coleman in an eight-player trade on October 9, which sent Denny McLain to Washington. The trade proved beneficial for Detroit, as Coleman won 88 games over six seasons with the team.
Coleman’s 1971 season was nearly derailed when he suffered a skull fracture after being hit by a line drive from Ted Simmons during spring training on March 27, 1971. He was hospitalized for two weeks but recovered to post a 20-9 record with a 3.15 ERA, completing 16 games. He ranked third in the American League with 236 strikeouts that season, behind Mickey Lolich and Vida Blue.
In 1972, Coleman made the American League All-Star team and appeared in the postseason. During the third game of the 1972 ALCS against Oakland, he pitched a complete-game shutout with 14 strikeouts, setting a playoff record. Detroit lost the series 3-2. Coleman’s record stood for 25 years until Mike Mussina of Baltimore struck out 15 in the 1997 championship series.
Coleman continued to perform well in 1973, leading Detroit with a 23-15 record and a 3.53 ERA over 40 starts, covering 288⅓ innings. During his first three seasons in Detroit, from 1971 to 1973, he amassed a 62-38 win-loss record.
After 1973, Coleman’s performance declined. In 1975, he posted a 10-18 record with a 5.55 ERA. Chicago acquired Coleman through waivers from Detroit on June 8, 1976, using him mainly as a relief pitcher. Oakland traded for him on March 15, 1977, in exchange for pitcher Jim Todd, where he found renewed success in relief.
Coleman also played for the Chicago Cubs, Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, and Pittsburgh Pirates. In his final season, he appeared in 10 relief games for the 1979 Pirates, who won the World Series. Over his career, Coleman had a 142-135 record, a 3.70 ERA, and 1,728 strikeouts in 484 appearances.
After retiring as a player, Coleman transitioned to coaching, working as a pitching and bullpen instructor for the California/Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, and Seattle Mariners, as well as various minor league teams. He served as a pitching coach under manager Joe Torre with the Cardinals from 1991 to 1994 and also contributed to the Durham Bulls, Lakeland Flying Tigers, and Jupiter Hammerheads.
Casey Coleman highlighted his father’s influence on the players he coached. “He was a good man with a really good heart,” Casey said. “Everywhere I went in professional baseball, I met pitchers he coached. Many gave him credit for making it to the big leagues.”
Casey Coleman played in 58 major league games for Chicago and Kansas City from 2010 to 2014, making the Colemans baseball’s first three-generation pitching family. Joe Coleman Sr. played professionally for 10 seasons over 14 years with the Philadelphia Athletics, Orioles, and Tigers from 1942 to 1955.
Coleman is survived by his wife, Donna, son Casey, daughter Kristen, and three grandchildren.
