Casey Coleman
Encyclopedia
Kenneth R. "Casey" Coleman Jr. (March 24, 1951 – November 27, 2006) was a sportscaster
and radio personality in the Cleveland area for nearly 30 years.
. The elder Coleman called Cleveland Browns
games in the late 1950s and early 1960s, as well as the televised games of the Cleveland Indians
during roughly the same span. Ken Coleman was best known as the voice of the Boston Red Sox
for a generation.
As a youngster, Coleman was a water boy for the Browns while his dad served as the team's radio voice.
on the radio
. In 1978, he came to Cleveland and hosted a radio sports talk show on WERE
1300 AM (now at 1490 AM), where he ended each broadcast by saying, "I'm rounding third and heading home.", a phrase he would carry over in to his TV career.
From 1984-1996, Coleman worked for WJW TV 8 as the main sports anchor. He was awarded four Cleveland Emmy Awards while at WJW.
Following the death of Browns play by play voice Nev Chandler
, Coleman became the team's main announcer in 1994, and held that job for the final two seasons of the Art Modell
era, before the team suspended operations in 1996.
Coleman joined WTAM 1100-AM
in July 1997, and became a part of the morning talk show
"Wills, Webster and Coleman in the Morning" in October 1998. (The show's name was shortened to "Wills and Coleman" in 2001 after Webster's departure).
After the Cleveland Browns
returned to the NFL in 1999, Coleman served as radio sideline reporter for WMJI
(later WMMS
) and WTAM
's coverage of the team's games until 2005, when he began showing signs of the illness that preceded his death and was replaced by WTAM sports anchor/reporter Andre Knott.
Coleman was inducted into the Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame in 2006.
On September 26, 2006, Cleveland mayor Frank G. Jackson
declared that September 26 would be "Casey Coleman Day."
On October 11, 2006, the Browns dedicated a building in their practice facility as "The Casey Coleman Fieldhouse".
Coleman died on November 27, 2006 after a 14-month struggle with pancreatic cancer
. His death was reported by his co-host, Bill Wills, on WTAM
's "Wills and Coleman in the Morning" show the morning of his death. He is survived by his daughters Chelsea and Kayla Coleman.
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
and radio personality in the Cleveland area for nearly 30 years.
Early life
Coleman was born in Cleveland in 1951 to legendary play-by-play announcer Ken ColemanKen Coleman
Kenneth R. Coleman was an American radio and television sportscaster for 38 years . He was born in Quincy, Massachusetts....
. The elder Coleman called Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
games in the late 1950s and early 1960s, as well as the televised games of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
during roughly the same span. Ken Coleman was best known as the voice of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for a generation.
As a youngster, Coleman was a water boy for the Browns while his dad served as the team's radio voice.
Career
Coleman began his broadcasting career in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
on the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. In 1978, he came to Cleveland and hosted a radio sports talk show on WERE
WERE
WERE — branded News/Talk 1490 WERE-AM — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland Heights, Ohio broadcasting a news/talk format. The station is owned by Radio One, and has studios at 2510 St. Clair Avenue, while the transmitter is along Euclid Avenue near East 118th Street, adjacent to...
1300 AM (now at 1490 AM), where he ended each broadcast by saying, "I'm rounding third and heading home.", a phrase he would carry over in to his TV career.
From 1984-1996, Coleman worked for WJW TV 8 as the main sports anchor. He was awarded four Cleveland Emmy Awards while at WJW.
Following the death of Browns play by play voice Nev Chandler
Nev Chandler
Neville A. "Nev" Chandler, Jr. was a Cleveland, Ohio-area sports broadcaster.Chandler graduated from Rocky River High School and, in 1968, Northwestern University...
, Coleman became the team's main announcer in 1994, and held that job for the final two seasons of the Art Modell
Art Modell
Arthur B. Modell is an American businessman, entrepreneur and former National Football League team owner. He owned the Cleveland Browns franchise from 1961–1995 and the Baltimore Ravens franchise from 1996–2004. Modell is the grandson of the late Morris Modell who founded the northeast...
era, before the team suspended operations in 1996.
Coleman joined WTAM 1100-AM
WTAM
WTAM — branded Newsradio WTAM 1100 — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts primarily a news/talk format...
in July 1997, and became a part of the morning talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
"Wills, Webster and Coleman in the Morning" in October 1998. (The show's name was shortened to "Wills and Coleman" in 2001 after Webster's departure).
After the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
returned to the NFL in 1999, Coleman served as radio sideline reporter for WMJI
WMJI
WMJI — branded Majic 105.7 — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio broadcasting a classic hits format. The station serves Cleveland, Akron and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio....
(later WMMS
WMMS
WMMS — branded 100.7 WMMS: The Buzzard — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, widely recognized as one of the most influential rock stations in America throughout much of the history of FM broadcasting...
) and WTAM
WTAM
WTAM — branded Newsradio WTAM 1100 — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts primarily a news/talk format...
's coverage of the team's games until 2005, when he began showing signs of the illness that preceded his death and was replaced by WTAM sports anchor/reporter Andre Knott.
Coleman was inducted into the Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame in 2006.
On September 26, 2006, Cleveland mayor Frank G. Jackson
Frank G. Jackson
Frank George Jackson is an American attorney and politician. He is currently the Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio. He was elected on November 8, 2005, unseating incumbent Jane Campbell and re-elected in 2009...
declared that September 26 would be "Casey Coleman Day."
On October 11, 2006, the Browns dedicated a building in their practice facility as "The Casey Coleman Fieldhouse".
Coleman died on November 27, 2006 after a 14-month struggle with pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
. His death was reported by his co-host, Bill Wills, on WTAM
WTAM
WTAM — branded Newsradio WTAM 1100 — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts primarily a news/talk format...
's "Wills and Coleman in the Morning" show the morning of his death. He is survived by his daughters Chelsea and Kayla Coleman.