Gordy Coleman Traded to Get Coaching Experience

Gordy Coleman was a very productive player for the Reds during the early sixties, manning the first base bag after coming over from the Indians at the end of the 1959 season. He stayed with the Reds through the beginning of the 1967 season, as he slowed down at the plate while youngsters like Lee May and Tony Perez were starting to blossom.

He was sent down to the minors, to AAA Buffalo, but then finished the year at Spokane in the Dodgers chain, with no transaction listed. We find it in the Amsterdam (NY) Recorder of June 28, 1967...

"The Cincinnati Reds sold first baseman Gordy Coleman to Spokane of the Pacific Coast League on Tuesday (June 27)."

Well that is right to the point. Coleman spent the rest of the season as a bench/backup for Spokane player, but a player/coach as well, which set him up for his future employment back with the Reds..

The Spokane Daily Chronicle of Oct. 31, 1967     has an article "Coleman Gets New Red Job" that talks about how Coleman was looking forward to his new role as a coach for the Reds after "very capably" serving as a player-coach for Spokane!

Coleman from www.vintagecardprices.com