Gil Coan
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Fitzgerald Coan (born May 18, 1922 in Monroe, North Carolina
) is a former outfielder
in Major League
, playing mainly as a left fielder
for four different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 6' 0", 180 lb., he batted left-handed
and threw right-handed.
In 1945, Coan was honored by The Sporting News
as the Minor League Player of the Year while playing for the Chattanooga Lookouts
of the Southern Association
. He entered the majors in 1946 with the Washington Senators
, playing for them eight years before joining the Baltimore Orioles
(1954-1955[start]), Chicago White Sox
(1955[mid]) and New York Giants
(1955[end]). Basically a line-drive hitter and speedy outfielder, he averaged 12 stolen base
s from 1948-52, with a career-high 23 in 1948 (2nd in American League
).
In 1947, Coan made 21 hits in 42 at bat
s for a .500 batting average
to collect the highest BA for any player who had 30 or more at-bats in a major league season, setting a record that was matched by Rudy Pemberton
in 1996 with a .512 BA (21-for-41). His most productive season came in 1951, when he posted career-numbers in home run
s (9), runs batted in (62), runs
(85) and games played
(135) while hitting .303 (9th in AL), equaling a personal mark he set a year before. He also tied a major league record hitting two triples
in a same inning (April 21, 1951). The record is shared with four others.
In a 11-season career, Coan was a .254 hitter (731-for-2877) with 39 home runs and 278 RBI in 918 games, including 384 runs, 98 doubles
, 44 triples
, 83 stolen bases, and a .316 on-base percentage.
Following his majors career, Coan entered the insurance business. Since 1962 the Brevard Insurance Agency was owned and operated by Coan in Brevard, North Carolina
, and after his retirement in 1986, his son and grandson continue to run the agency.
Coan graduated from Brevard College
in 1942
Monroe, North Carolina
Monroe is a city in Union County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 36,397 as of the 2010 census. It is the seat of government of Union County and is also part of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC Metropolitan area.-Geography:...
) is a former outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, playing mainly as a left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
for four different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 6' 0", 180 lb., he batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
and threw right-handed.
In 1945, Coan was honored by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
as the Minor League Player of the Year while playing for the Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
of the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
. He entered the majors in 1946 with the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, playing for them eight years before joining the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1954-1955[start]), Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1955[mid]) and New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1955[end]). Basically a line-drive hitter and speedy outfielder, he averaged 12 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s from 1948-52, with a career-high 23 in 1948 (2nd in American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
).
In 1947, Coan made 21 hits in 42 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s for a .500 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
to collect the highest BA for any player who had 30 or more at-bats in a major league season, setting a record that was matched by Rudy Pemberton
Rudy Pemberton
Rudy Héctor Pemberton Pérez is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball, from through , for the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox , playing mainly as a right fielder...
in 1996 with a .512 BA (21-for-41). His most productive season came in 1951, when he posted career-numbers in home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (9), runs batted in (62), runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(85) and games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
(135) while hitting .303 (9th in AL), equaling a personal mark he set a year before. He also tied a major league record hitting two triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in a same inning (April 21, 1951). The record is shared with four others.
In a 11-season career, Coan was a .254 hitter (731-for-2877) with 39 home runs and 278 RBI in 918 games, including 384 runs, 98 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 44 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 83 stolen bases, and a .316 on-base percentage.
Following his majors career, Coan entered the insurance business. Since 1962 the Brevard Insurance Agency was owned and operated by Coan in Brevard, North Carolina
Brevard, North Carolina
Brevard is a town in Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States. The 2005 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau was 6,643. It is the county seat of Transylvania County....
, and after his retirement in 1986, his son and grandson continue to run the agency.
Coan graduated from Brevard College
Brevard College
Brevard College is a small, private, United Methodist, liberal arts college in Brevard, North Carolina. The college currently grants the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Music degree...
in 1942