Jimmie Coker

Jimmie Goodwin Coker (March 28, 1936 – October 29, 1991) was a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies (1958 and 1960–62), San Francisco Giants (1963) and Cincinnati Reds (1964–67).

The native of Holly Hill, South Carolina was the son of David and Leola Coker.^[1] He played football and basketball for Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina before signing as an amateur free agent in February 1955 with the Phillies. He spent all or parts of nine years in the National League.^[2][3]

He made his Major League debut at age 22 on September 11, 1958, starting as catcher and batting eighth for the Phillies in a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. In his second at-bat of the game, in the fifth inning, he tallied his first career hit, a single off Johnny Podres.^[4]

During most of the 1962 season he served in the U.S. Military.^[5] After playing four seasons with the Phillies, his contract was purchased by the Baltimore Orioles, who a month later traded him to the Giants. He played one season with the Giants. In August 1964 his contract was purchased from the Milwaukee Braves by the Reds, where he played parts of his last four seasons. He made his last Major League start on August 26, 1967; two days later Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench made his Reds' debut.^[5]

Coker played in 233 games and had 592 at bats, 137 hits, 16 home runs, 70 runs batted in and a .231 batting average.^[2]

After baseball, he was a rancher in Texas, where he was on the board of directors of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.^[6] He died October 29, 1991, aged 55, in Throckmorton, Texas.^[2][3]

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)