San Diego, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Longtime Padres announcer and former Yankees second baseman Jerry Coleman passed away Sunday due to complications of head injuries suffered in a fall last month.
He was 89.
Coleman spent nine years with the Yankees and is the only MLB player to see combat duty in two wars (Korean and World War II).
As a player, Coleman batted .263 with 217 RBI and helped the Yankees to four World Series championships (1949-1951, 1956). He was also named an All-Star in 1950.
Coleman spent seven years calling Yankees games and was behind the microphone for former teammate Mickey Mantle's 500th career home run in 1967. Coleman then served as broadcaster for the California Angels for two years before becoming the Padres lead radio announcer in 1972.
Coleman worked in the Padres booth every year since but 1980, when he served as the teams manager. Coleman had an abbreviated schedule in recent years.
The 2005 Ford C. Frick Award winner spent 71 years in baseball.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.