Joe Coleman, the first player drafted to reach Major League Baseball, passed away in his sleep on the morning of July 9, 2025, at his home in Jamestown, Tennessee. He was 78 years old.
Coleman’s passing was confirmed by his son, Casey, who stated that his father died peacefully. The right-handed pitcher achieved 142 victories over his 15-season career in the major leagues and was an American League All-Star in 1972 with the Detroit Tigers.
Coleman was selected as the third overall pick in MLB’s inaugural amateur draft by Washington in 1965. His father, also named Joe Coleman, who played professionally from 1942 to 1955, secured a $75,000 signing deal for him.
Coleman, standing 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 175 pounds, made history by reaching the majors following his draft selection. His debut was on September 28, 1965, pitching a complete game with just four hits allowed, leading to a 6-1 victory over Kansas City. Born on February 3, 1947, in Boston, Massachusetts, Coleman graduated from Natick High School before starting his professional career.
He honed his pitching abilities at Ted Williams’ instructional camps in Lakeville, Massachusetts, focusing on the curveball and slider. His talent was evident during these camps and at the prestigious Hearst Sandlot Classic at Yankee Stadium in 1964.
After a brief stint with Burlington in the Carolina League, Coleman made his major league debut at 18, just three months after finishing high school. In the final week of the 1965 season, he recorded two complete-game wins, ending with a 2-0 record and a 1.00 ERA.
During his first six seasons with Washington from 1965 to 1970, Coleman excelled under manager Ted Williams. In 1969, he led in several categories, including 36 starts, 247⅔ innings pitched, 12 complete games, and four shutouts, with a 12-13 record.
After the 1970 season, Coleman was traded to Detroit in an eight-player deal that sent Denny McLain to Washington. Coleman won 88 games during his six seasons with Detroit.
In 1971, Coleman faced a significant challenge when he suffered a skull fracture from a line drive by Ted Simmons during spring training. Despite two weeks in the hospital, he recovered to achieve a 20-9 record with a 3.15 ERA and 236 strikeouts, ranking third in the American League.
The following season, Coleman was named to the American League All-Star team and made his sole postseason appearance. In the third game of the 1972 AL Championship Series against Oakland, he pitched a complete-game shutout with 14 strikeouts, a playoff record that stood for 25 years until Mike Mussina surpassed it in 1997.
In 1973, Coleman led Detroit with 23 wins, posting a 23-15 record and a 3.53 ERA over 40 starts totaling 288⅓ innings. During his first three seasons in Detroit, he compiled a 62-38 record.
After 1973, Coleman’s performance declined. In 1975, he had a 10-18 record with a 5.55 ERA. Chicago picked him up off waivers in 1976, using him mainly in relief. Oakland traded for him in 1977, where he found success as a reliever.
Coleman also played for the Chicago Cubs, Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He appeared in 10 relief games for the 1979 Pirates, who won the World Series. Coleman finished his career with a 142-135 record, a 3.70 ERA, and 1,728 strikeouts in 484 games.
After retiring as a player, Coleman transitioned to coaching, serving as a pitching and bullpen coach for the California/Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, and Seattle Mariners, as well as in the minor leagues. He coached under manager Joe Torre with the Cardinals from 1991 to 1994 and contributed to the Durham Bulls, Lakeland Flying Tigers, and Jupiter Hammerheads.
Casey Coleman highlighted his father’s influence, saying, “He was a good man with a really good heart. 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, establishing the Colemans as baseball’s first three-generation pitching family. Joe Coleman Sr. played professionally for 10 seasons across 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.
