Vince Coleman
Born: 9/22/1961 in Jacksonville, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1985-04-18 | Final Game: 1997-04-14
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Vincent Maurice Coleman
Biography
Vince Coleman, born in 1961, was a dynamic position player whose career spanned from 1985 to 1997. Known for his exceptional speed and base-running abilities, Coleman left an indelible mark on Major League Baseball during an era that increasingly valued power hitting and offensive production. Over the course of 1,371 games, he amassed 1,425 hits, including 28 home runs, and drove in 346 runs, while posting a career batting average of .264. His most notable achievement was his remarkable ability to steal bases, finishing his career with a staggering total of 752 stolen bases, which showcased his agility and strategic prowess on the field.
Coleman's impact on the game was recognized early in his career when he received the Rookie of the Year award and the TSN Rookie Player of the Year honors. He was selected as an All-Star twice, solidifying his reputation as one of the premier base runners of his time. Coleman played a significant role in the success of the St. Louis Cardinals during the late 1980s and early 1990s, contributing to their fast-paced style of play that emphasized aggressive base running. His legacy endures as one of the great stolen base artists in baseball history, making him a notable figure in the sport's transition towards a more speed-oriented game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1371 | 5406 | 849 | 1425 | 176 | 89 | 28 | 346 | 752 | 477 | 960 | 0.264 | 0.324 | 0.345 | 0.668 | -7458.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | STL | NL | 151 | 636 | 107 | 170 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 40 | 110 | 50 | 115 | 0.267 | -1011.0 |
| 1986 | STL | NL | 154 | 600 | 94 | 139 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 29 | 107 | 60 | 98 | 0.232 | -2283.8 |
| 1987 | STL | NL | 151 | 623 | 121 | 180 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 43 | 109 | 70 | 126 | 0.289 | -182.6 |
| 1988 | STL | NL | 153 | 616 | 77 | 160 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 38 | 81 | 49 | 111 | 0.260 | -777.4 |
| 1989 | STL | NL | 145 | 563 | 94 | 143 | 21 | 9 | 2 | 28 | 65 | 50 | 90 | 0.254 | -679.6 |
| 1990 | STL | NL | 124 | 497 | 73 | 145 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 39 | 77 | 35 | 88 | 0.292 | 380.0 |
| 1991 | NYN | NL | 72 | 278 | 45 | 71 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 37 | 39 | 47 | 0.255 | -117.3 |
| 1992 | NYN | NL | 71 | 229 | 37 | 63 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 41 | 0.275 | 160.7 |
| 1993 | NYN | NL | 92 | 373 | 64 | 104 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 25 | 38 | 21 | 58 | 0.279 | -502.3 |
| 1994 | KCR | AL | 104 | 438 | 61 | 105 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 33 | 50 | 29 | 72 | 0.240 | -1702.9 |
| 1995 | KCR | AL | 75 | 293 | 39 | 84 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 26 | 27 | 48 | 0.287 | -43.4 |
| 1995 | SEA | AL | 40 | 162 | 27 | 47 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 16 | 10 | 32 | 0.290 | -43.4 |
| 1996 | CIN | NL | 33 | 84 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 31 | 0.155 | -595.1 |
| 1997 | DET | AL | 6 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.071 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 111 | 16 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 28 | 0.198 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | ALDS2 | SEA | 5 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0.217 |
| 1995 | ALCS | SEA | 6 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0.100 |
| 1987 | NLCS | SLN | 7 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0.269 |
| 1987 | WS | SLN | 7 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 0.143 |
| 1985 | NLCS | SLN | 3 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.286 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1311 | 1283 | 2452 | 109 | 68 | 17 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | SLN | OF | 150 | 149 | 305 | 16 | 7 | 1 |
| 1986 | SLN | OF | 149 | 145 | 300 | 12 | 9 | 2 |
| 1987 | SLN | OF | 150 | 150 | 274 | 16 | 9 | 3 |
| 1988 | SLN | OF | 150 | 149 | 290 | 14 | 9 | 1 |
| 1989 | SLN | OF | 142 | 134 | 247 | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| 1990 | SLN | OF | 120 | 115 | 244 | 12 | 5 | 2 |
| 1991 | NYN | OF | 70 | 70 | 132 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | NYN | OF | 61 | 60 | 112 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1993 | NYN | OF | 90 | 88 | 162 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 | KCA | OF | 99 | 98 | 164 | 11 | 7 | 3 |
| 1995 | KCA | OF | 69 | 69 | 109 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| 1995 | SEA | OF | 38 | 38 | 82 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | CIN | OF | 20 | 17 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | DET | OF | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 1153 |
| Center Field | 154 |
| Right Field | 25 |
| Designated Hitter | 10 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Player of the Week | Week of 1986-09-19 |
| 1985 | Rookie of the Year | |
| 1985 | TSN Rookie Player of the Year |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | DET | AL | $500,000 |
| 1996 | CIN | NL | $500,000 |
| 1995 | KCA | AL | $250,000 |
| 1994 | KCA | AL | $3,312,500 |
| 1993 | NYN | NL | $2,312,500 |
| 1992 | NYN | NL | $3,212,500 |
| 1991 | NYN | NL | $3,112,500 |
| 1990 | SLN | NL | $1,012,500 |
| 1989 | SLN | NL | $775,000 |
| 1988 | SLN | NL | $700,000 |
| 1987 | SLN | NL | $160,000 |
| 1986 | SLN | NL | $150,000 |
| 1985 | SLN | NL | $60,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $16,057,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee | FL | 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 12th | 20.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1985 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 11th | 16.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1985 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 1st | 120.0 | 120 | 24 |