Vince Coleman
A record-setting basestealer, Vince Coleman swiped 100 or more bases in each of his first three major league seasons, earning the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1985. The speedster led the National League in stolen bases in each of his first six seasons, all with the St. Louis Cardinals. Playing left field, Coleman made up for an average bat by wreaking havoc on the basepaths for Whitey Herzog's Runnin' Redbirds. He teamed with Willie McGee and Ozzie Smith to help the Cardinals to two pennants. Prior to Game Four of the 1985 NLCS, Coleman was injured in a freak accident when the tarp ran over his leg. He missed the remainder of the post-season.
Played For
St. Louis Cardinals (1985-1990)
New York Mets (1991-1993)
Kansas City Royals (1994-1995)
Seattle Mariners (1995)
Cincinnati Reds (1996)
Detroit Tigers (1997)
Where He Played
Left field
Born
Vincent Maurice Coleman was born on September 22, 1961, in Jacksonville, FL.
Batted: Both
Threw: Right
Primary Position: OF
Primary Team: SLN
College: Florida A&M
Major League Debut
April 18, 1985
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1985
Andres Galarraga
Paul O'Neill
Ozzie Guillen
Devon White
Jose Canseco
Cecil Fielder
Teddy Higuera
Shawon Dunston
Todd Worrell
Nicknames
Vincent Van Go
Related Players
Frank Robinson, Orlando Cepeda, and Willie McCovey are the only other unanimous selections as NL Rookie of the Year... In 1989, Coleman broke Davey Lopes' record for most consecutive stolen bases without being caught... Willie McGee, Ozzie Smith, Tommie Herr, Terry Pendleton
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 2003 |
BBWAA |
3 |
.6% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1985 National League Championship Series
1987 National League Championship Series
1987 World Series
1995 American League Championship Series
1995 American League Divisional Series
Awards and Honors
1985 NL Rookie of the Year
Feats
From September 15, 1988, until July 28, 1989, Vince Coleman swiped 50 bases without being caught, and NL record.
Notes
Career stolen base success: 80.1% vs RHP, 82.6% vs LHP
Injuries and Explanation for Missed Playing Time
Coleman was a disappointment in New York for the Mets, suffering leg injuries during his tumultuous three-year stint in the Big Apple. During that time he clashed with manager Jeff Torbrog and coach Mike Cubbage, and was fined and suspended when he tossed a firecracker at a fan in the parking lot at Shea Stadium.
Transactions
June 8, 1981: Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round of the 1981 amateur draft, but did not sign.
June 7, 1982: Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 10th round of the 1982 amateur draft. Player signed June 9, 1982.
November 5, 1990: Granted Free Agency.
December 5, 1990: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Mets.
January 5, 1994: Traded by the New York Mets with cash to the Kansas City Royals for Kevin McReynolds.
October 20, 1994: Granted Free Agency.
April 26, 1995: Signed as a Free Agent with the Kansas City Royals.
August 15, 1995: Traded by the Kansas City Royals to the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later. The Seattle Mariners sent Jim Converse (August 18, 1995) to the Kansas City Royals to complete the trade.
October 31, 1995: Granted Free Agency.
January 20, 1996: Signed as a Free Agent with the Cincinnati Reds.
June 18, 1996: Released by the Cincinnati Reds.
June 30, 1996: Signed as a Free Agent with the California Angels.
October 15, 1996: Granted Free Agency.
January 9, 1997: Signed as a Free Agent with the Detroit Tigers.
April 16, 1997: Released by the Detroit Tigers.
All-Star Selections
1988 NL
1989 NL
Replaced
Lonnie Smith
Replaced By
Bernard Gilkey in St. Louis; Kevin McReynolds with the Mets; in Kansas City.
Best Strength as a Player
Speed
Largest Weakness as a Player
Ability to get on base, and the ability to lay off bad pitches. Coleman averaged 112 strikeouts in his first four seasons. He walked about half as much, and with his .264 career batting average, his OBP was a mediocre .324 (not very good for a leadoff batter). That's why he scored relatively few runs despite his high stolen base totals.
Learn More about Vince Coleman
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