Joe Coleman, notable as the first drafted player to progress to Major League Baseball, died 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 died peacefully. The right-handed pitcher achieved 142 wins in a 15-season major league career and was named an American League All-Star in 1972 with Detroit.
Coleman became the third overall pick in the inaugural amateur draft when Washington selected him in 1965. His father, also named Joe Coleman, who pitched professionally from 1942 to 1955, negotiated a $75,000 signing bonus for him with the team.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 175 pounds, Coleman made history by reaching the major leagues after being drafted. He debuted professionally on September 28, 1965, pitching a complete game and allowing four hits in a 6-1 victory over Kansas City. Born on February 3, 1947, in Boston, Massachusetts, Coleman graduated from Natick High School before his professional career began.
Coleman honed his pitching skills at Ted Williams’ instructional camps in Lakeville, Massachusetts, learning the curveball and slider. His talent was evident during his high school years, and he played in the prestigious Hearst Sandlot Classic at Yankee Stadium in 1964.
After a brief stint with Burlington in the Carolina League, Coleman debuted in the major leagues at 18, three months after high school graduation. In the final week of the 1965 season, he pitched two complete-game victories, finishing with a 2-0 record and a 1.00 ERA.
Coleman spent his first six professional seasons with Washington from 1965 to 1970. In 1969, under manager Ted Williams, he led the team in categories such as 36 starts, 247⅔ innings pitched, 12 complete games, and four shutouts, compiling a 12-13 record.
After the 1970 season, Detroit acquired Coleman through an eight-player trade on October 9, sending Denny McLain to Washington. The trade benefited Detroit, as Coleman achieved 88 wins during his six seasons with the team.
Coleman’s 1971 season was nearly cut short when he suffered a skull fracture from a line drive by Ted Simmons during spring training on March 27, 1971. After two weeks in the hospital, he recovered to post a 20-9 record with a 3.15 ERA, completing 16 games. His 236 strikeouts ranked third in the American League behind Mickey Lolich and Vida Blue.
In the following season, Coleman was selected for the American League All-Star team and made his only postseason appearance. In the third game of the 1972 American League Championship Series against Oakland, Coleman threw a complete-game shutout with 14 strikeouts, setting a playoff record at the time. Detroit lost the series 3-2. Coleman’s strikeout record stood for 25 years until Mike Mussina of Baltimore struck out 15 in the 1997 championship series.
Coleman continued his strong performance in 1973, leading Detroit with 23 wins, achieving a 23-15 record and a 3.53 ERA across 40 starts over 288⅓ innings. During his first three seasons in Detroit from 1971 to 1973, Coleman compiled a 62-38 win-loss record.
Coleman’s effectiveness declined after 1973. In 1975, he struggled with a 10-18 record and a 5.55 ERA. On June 8, 1976, Chicago acquired Coleman through waivers from Detroit, using him mainly in relief appearances. Oakland traded for him on March 15, 1977, in exchange for pitcher Jim Todd, where he found renewed success as a relief pitcher.
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. Coleman achieved a 142-135 record with a 3.70 ERA and 1,728 strikeouts over 484 appearances.
After retiring as a player, Coleman transitioned to coaching, serving 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 worked 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 in the minor league system.
Casey Coleman highlighted his father’s character and 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.