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Padres Radio Voice, Hall Of Famer Jerry Coleman Dies
January 6, 2014 at 3:47 AM (PT)
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JERRY COLEMAN, the former NEW YORK YANKEES second baseman who later became the longtime Hall of Fame radio broadcaster (and, briefly, manager) of the SAN DIEGO PADRES, died SUNDAY (1/5) at 89, the PADRES announced.
COLEMAN, who played for the YANKEES in 1949-57 and saw duty in the MARINES during both WORLD WAR II and the KOREAN WAR, spent 71 years in baseball, 53 years of that in broadcasting, starting with CBS in 1960. He called YANKEES games on WCBS-A and WPIX (TV)/NEW YORK starting in 1963 and joined the PADRES as radio play-by-play voice in 1972, also calling games for CBS RADIO and taking a break to manage the PADRES in the 1980 season. COLEMAN was known for catchphrases "Oh, Doctor!" (a RED BARBER-originated call) and "You can hang a star on that baby!" and for colorful malaprops.
He was honored with the FORD C. FRICK Award by the BASEBALL HALL OF FAME in 2005.
A statement from the PADRES read, "The SAN DIEGO PADRES are deeply saddened by the news today of the passing of JERRY COLEMAN. We send our heartfelt sympathy to the entire COLEMAN family, including his wife, MAGGIE, his children and grandchildren. On behalf of PADRES' fans everywhere, we mourn the loss of a Marine who was truly an American hero as well as a great man, a great friend and a great PADRE." COLEMAN was heard on PADRES broadcasts most recently on BCA Sports XEPRS-A (THE MIGHTY 1090)/SAN DIEGO.

