Well done Giants. Posey should be a certain MVP candidate!
I thought I'd write a little synopsis of our revered Padre Broadcaster and living legend, Gerald (Jerry) Francis Coleman Jr.
Jerry was newly broadcasting games when I returned from serving in the Viet Nam war. He is the announcer I listened to on the AM radio broadcasts over the years, and then on TV. He is like an Uncle who taught me all the fine points of the game and to love it win or lose.
A statue was unveiled at Petco Park that's installed in the Park at the Park among statues of former Padre Greats. The statue depicts him as a young man in his WW2 Marine combat pilot uniform. He wanted it that way.
Jerry's history covered 70 years and three careers:
1 year of minor league ball before turning 18 and enlisting in the Marines as a combat pilot in WW2 flying Curtis dive bombers. 60 combat missions and a DFC.
After his service, he went back into the Yankee organization and played 2nd base on the great championship teams of the early 50's.He pooh pooh's his contributions during those years since those teams contained many of baseball's immortals. Others would say he was a real contributor to those teams' success.
The Korean war started up and he enlisted again, leaving pro ball, to fly Corsairs over South and North Korea providing close air support for combat Marines on the ground. 60 more missions and another DFC. He retired from the USMC as a Lt. Colonel.
He was inducted into the USMC Sports Hall of Fame. The award was presented to him by Fleet Admiral "Bull" Halsey.
He then retired from baseball and got a job in San Diego as an announcer for the Padres.
He broadcast games, worked as a team executive, as an interim manager, then returned to broadcasting until this day.
He won the Floyd C. Frick announcer's award and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
A 70 year career in total. He celebrated his 88th birthday on Thursday.
Ohhh Doctor!
You can hang a star on that baby!
A great man who's career will never be equaled in baseball. A man's man and a player's player.
Thanks for the memories Jerry.
For those here who served as Marines, this former sailor salutes you and says Semper Fi in honor of his service.
Rick
. We'll be having a string of games against the NLW leaders down the stretch with a chance to mess up some teams' lofty but tenuous standings if they continue to play the way they have lately. Hats off to our management for salvaging a horrendous string of injuries and turning a team that looked headed for a hundred loss season into a real performer since the mid-season break. The team actually feels they have a shot at a wild-card berth if they continue the roll.