RIP Jerry Coleman

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/jan/05/jerry-coleman-died-padres/

Former Yankee, 1949 Rookie of the Year and 1950 World Series MVP, World War II bomber pilot, and of course longtime Padres broadcaster (and one-year Padres manager).

Spent a lot of time listening to him during my years in San Diego, and, I'll be the first to say, not the best announcer (known more for his on-air statements that didn't come out quite right), but from everyone I ever heard talk or write about him, he was a first-class human being.

A day that was shaping up to be one of the best in San Diego sports history (with the Chargers, and then the Aztecs beating Kansas in basketball), this makes it a bit less celebratory.

 

"There's a fly ball, deep to right field! Winfield is going back, back, back, he hits his head against the wall! It's rolling away!"

 

RIP
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/quocole.shtml

 

I'm sure there will be a few of those on this thread, YF. My favorite has always been "Rich Folkers is throwing up in the bullpen."

And for balance, a combined 137 missions flown combined between WWII and Korea, and one crash he survived. I salute you, sir!

 

Rest in Peace.

My first memory of him... he was the "MGR." on my 1980 San Diego Padres Topps team card.

Ron Burgundy could deliver the eulogy.

 

Sad news. Great guy who deserves to be remembered for so much more than malapropisms.

 

I didn't know anything at all about his military career. Two Distinguished Flying Crosses? Damn. RIP.

 

Musical tribute from Tim Flannery, ex-Pads and now-Giants coach:

 

Nice job by Bill Center:

http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2014/jan/05/padres-mlb-coleman-remembered/

 

"(Dave) Winfield goes back to the wall, he hits his head on the wall and it rolls off! It's rolling all the way back to second base. This is a terrible thing for the Padres."

 

Damn... RIP, Mr. Coleman.