Eight years after he left the Cardinals, Vince Coleman made a strong bid to return. By then, however, the Cardinals had transformed from speedsters into sluggers. Though still fast, Coleman’s value had diminished.
On Jan. 13, 1998, Coleman, 36, was invited to the Cardinals’ spring training camp as a non-roster player, looking to compete for a backup outfield job.
Since leaving the Cardinals as a free agent after the 1990 season, Coleman’s career had spiraled. He played for five teams over the next seven years. When the Cardinals reconnected with him in the winter of 1998, Coleman was out of baseball. He hadn’t played since being released by the Tigers in April 1997.
Though he no longer was the disruptive force on the bases he had been for the Cardinals in the 1980s, Coleman thought he still could contribute and wanted one more chance to prove it.
The possibility he could end his career where it had started _ with the Cardinals _ appealed to him greatly.
Cardinals catalyst
Coleman first got to the major leagues in 1985 with the Cardinals and immediately made his mark as a winning ballplayer who could change a game with his base running.
A switch hitter and left fielder, Coleman established a big-league rookie record for stolen bases (110) in a season. He also scored 107 runs, sparking St. Louis to the National League pennant, and received the 1985 NL Rookie of the Year Award.
Excelling under manager Whitey Herzog, Coleman led the NL in stolen bases each of his six seasons with St. Louis. He three times swiped 100 bases in a season, twice scored 100 runs and twice was named to the all-star team. The Cardinals won pennants in two of Coleman’s first three years with the club.
In 878 career regular-season games with the Cardinals, Coleman produced 937 hits, 566 runs and 549 stolen bases.
Vagabond years
After the 1990 season, Coleman signed with the Mets. Years later, reflecting on his decision, Coleman told Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “I just thought the grass was greener on the other side. It wasn’t.”
Coleman was miserable with the Mets. His performance declined significantly and his reputation was tarnished when he threw a grenade-like device into a parking lot, injured three people and was charged with committing a felony.
After the stability of St. Louis, Coleman became a journeyman, playing for the Mets (1991-1993), Royals (1994-1995), Mariners (1995), Reds (1996) and Tigers (1997). He also had a stint in the Angels’ farm system, batting .207 for the 1996 Vancouver Canadians.
Assist from McGee
In November 1997, Coleman was at home in Scottsdale, Ariz., and no longer playing. His neighbor, Cardinals shortstop Royce Clayton, had an indoor batting cage and invited Coleman to work out with him. The sessions convinced Coleman he still could hit.
Around that time, Jim Bronner, Coleman’s agent, had a chat with St. Louis general manager Walt Jocketty and learned the Cardinals were seeking reserve outfield help for 1998. Bronner relayed that information to Coleman.
The Cardinals were heading into 1998 with a starting outfield of Ron Gant in left, Ray Lankford in center and Brian Jordan in right, with Willie McGee as a backup. The Cardinals wanted a versatile fifth outfielder.
Coleman called his friend, McGee, and asked him to speak with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa on his behalf.
“Two days later, Tony called me up and told me there was a need for a guy who could run and play all three outfield positions,” Coleman said.
When Coleman got the invitation to spring training, he told Hummel, “I don’t know who is more excited, Willie or me. I know he wants me on this club. He’s a positive influence in my life.”
Motivated to win
When Coleman arrived at Cardinals camp, he was issued uniform No. 29, the same he had worn with St. Louis in the 1980s.
“You don’t know how happy I am,” Coleman said. “I am tickled pink. For eight years, I’ve been trying to get back.”
La Russa played Coleman regularly in exhibition games. Through March 18, Coleman was batting .324.
“I knew he was in good shape,” La Russa said. “He was hungry and he came highly recommended.”
Said Coleman: “With the playing time I’ve had, I find myself getting that groove. The more at-bats I get, the more comfortable I get. I can still play.”
As spring training neared its end, the finalists for the fifth outfielder job were Coleman and Brian Hunter, a six-year major-league veteran who had played for four clubs, primarily the Braves.
Hunter was batting .344 with three home runs and nine RBI for the Cardinals in spring training. Coleman was batting .313 with four stolen bases.
La Russa chose Hunter. “I just think with the RBI potential and the extra pop we get from Hunter that that helps us more off the bench than the speed,” La Russa said.
Times have changed
Coleman said La Russa made “a bad decision.”
“I’m still the fastest man in baseball,” Coleman said. “I can definitely steal bases and help a team win a pennant.”
Said McGee: “He proved he could play in the major leagues and be an asset.”
After the Cardinals gave Coleman his release, he surprised them, volunteering to report to Class AAA Memphis under one condition: If, during his Memphis stay, Coleman received an offer from a big-league club, the Cardinals would have to promote him to the majors, or let him go to the other team.
The Cardinals agreed to the arrangement.
Coleman batted .316 with eight steals and 15 runs scored in 20 games for Memphis. He attracted scouts from the Diamondbacks, Giants and Mariners, but none made an offer.
Discouraged, Coleman left Memphis on May 4 and announced his retirement.
“Everybody is looking for big boppers … The stolen base is a lost art,” Coleman told Hummel. “I need Whitey (Herzog) back here. Where is Whitey?”
“The stolen base is a lost art.” If things continue the way they are, it will become a forgotten art. What a shame. BRING BACK WHITEY BALL !!!
Thanks for the comment. I’m glad we got to see WhiteyBall and Vince Coleman in their heyday.
coleman vs ricky henderson they dont make them like that anymore, true legends of the game, i dont even watch baseball, after, smith mcgee coleman lankford and mcgwire left.
Thanks for commenting, Rob. I agree that the game has been diminished by the de-emphasis on dynamic base stealers and the de-emphasis on runners who utilized speed and guile to take extra bases.