Gil Coan
Born: 5/18/1922 in Monroe, NC, USA
Died: 2/4/2020 in Hendersonville, NC, USA
MLB Debut: 1946-04-27 | Final Game: 1956-04-25
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Gilbert Fitzgerald Coan
Biography
Gil Coan, born in 1922, was a versatile position player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1946 to 1956. Over the course of his career, he played in 918 games, recording a total of 731 hits and a batting average of .254. Coan demonstrated a blend of power and speed, finishing his career with 39 home runs and 278 RBIs, while also showcasing his agility on the bases with 83 stolen bases.
Coan's playing style was characterized by his ability to contribute both offensively and defensively, making him a valuable asset to the teams he played for, including the Washington Senators and the New York Mets. His career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, as the sport began to integrate and evolve in the post-war years, leading to a more diverse league. As a player, Gil Coan left a lasting impact, remembered not only for his statistical contributions but also for his role in shaping the game during a pivotal time in its history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 918 | 2877 | 384 | 731 | 98 | 44 | 39 | 278 | 83 | 232 | 384 | 0.254 | 0.316 | 0.359 | 0.675 | -4216.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | WSN | AL | 59 | 134 | 17 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 37 | 0.209 | -329.2 |
| 1947 | WSN | AL | 11 | 42 | 5 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0.500 | 0.0 |
| 1948 | WSN | AL | 138 | 513 | 56 | 119 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 60 | 23 | 41 | 78 | 0.232 | -1417.3 |
| 1949 | WSN | AL | 111 | 358 | 36 | 78 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 25 | 9 | 29 | 58 | 0.218 | -1468.7 |
| 1950 | WSN | AL | 104 | 366 | 58 | 111 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 50 | 10 | 28 | 46 | 0.303 | 353.1 |
| 1951 | WSN | AL | 135 | 538 | 85 | 163 | 25 | 7 | 9 | 62 | 8 | 39 | 62 | 0.303 | 831.5 |
| 1952 | WSN | AL | 107 | 332 | 50 | 68 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 9 | 32 | 35 | 0.205 | -965.2 |
| 1953 | WSN | AL | 68 | 168 | 28 | 33 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 7 | 22 | 23 | 0.196 | -591.1 |
| 1954 | BAL | AL | 94 | 265 | 29 | 74 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 9 | 16 | 17 | 0.279 | -373.9 |
| 1955 | BAL | AL | 61 | 130 | 18 | 31 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 0.238 | -255.6 |
| 1955 | CHW | AL | 17 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.176 | -255.6 |
| 1955 | NY1 | NL | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.154 | -255.6 |
| 1956 | NY1 | NL | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 749 | 95 | 1741 | 53 | 49 | 12 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | WS1 | OF | 29 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1947 | WS1 | OF | 11 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1948 | WS1 | OF | 131 | 0 | 341 | 11 | 11 | 3 |
| 1949 | WS1 | OF | 97 | 0 | 225 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
| 1950 | WS1 | OF | 98 | 0 | 220 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
| 1951 | WS1 | OF | 132 | 0 | 374 | 17 | 14 | 2 |
| 1952 | WS1 | OF | 86 | 0 | 185 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 1953 | WS1 | OF | 46 | 0 | 105 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1954 | BAL | OF | 67 | 64 | 148 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 1955 | BAL | OF | 43 | 29 | 53 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | CHA | OF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | NY1 | OF | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 660 |
| Center Field | 67 |
| Right Field | 21 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevard College | Brevard | NC | 1940 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |