Vince Coleman

Vincent Maurice Coleman was born on September 22, 1961, in Jacksonville, Florida. He attended William M. Raines High School and later Florida A&M University, where he excelled in both football and baseball. In 1981, he set a single-season stolen base record at Florida A&M with 65 steals and seven in a single game, leading NCAA Division I in both categories. He was also a successful kicker and punter on the Florida A&M Rattlers football team, contributing to their 1978 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship win. Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 10th round of the 1982 MLB June Amateur Draft, Coleman rapidly progressed through the minor leagues, setting a minor-league record with 145 stolen bases in 1983 with the Macon Redbirds and 101 steals with the Louisville Redbirds in 1984.

Coleman made his MLB debut on April 18, 1985, with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he quickly established himself as a dominant force on the bases. He stole 110 bases in his rookie season, earning him the NL Rookie of the Year award. He continued his remarkable baserunning by stealing over 100 bases in each of the following two seasons (107 in 1986 and 109 in 1987), making him the only player in the 20th century to achieve this feat in three consecutive seasons. Coleman led the National League in stolen bases for six consecutive years (1985–1990), a testament to his unparalleled speed and skill. During his tenure with the Cardinals, he was a two-time All-Star (1988, 1989) and helped his team reach the World Series in 1985 and 1987.

After leaving the Cardinals in 1990, Coleman played for the New York Mets (1991–1993), Kansas City Royals (1994–1995), Seattle Mariners (1995), Cincinnati Reds (1996), and Detroit Tigers (1997). His career was marked by numerous injuries, personal controversies, and diminished on-field performance after his time with the Cardinals. Despite these challenges, he concluded his playing career with 752 stolen bases, ranking sixth all-time in Major League Baseball history. Following his retirement from playing, Coleman transitioned into coaching, serving as a baserunning consultant for the Chicago White Sox in 2015 and later as a minor-league baserunning and outfield coach for the San Francisco Giants in 2017, where he continues to influence young players.