Ohhh Doctor!!!

Independence Day is the perfect day to talk about the great Jerry Coleman.  Jerry has been the radio voice of My Padres since 1972, excluding 1980 when he took a leave of absence for one year to manage the Friars.

I haven't had the privilege to listen to him very much as KFMB and now XX 1090 doesn't reach to Utah, but when we travel to San Diego to go to games we always listen in on headphones at the game.  Also, when games are not on TV, or MLB.TV, then we listen to the Padres broadcast over the internet.  Additionally, this is the first year we've had a DVR so when the Padres play Colorado and Arizoma MLB blocks the Channel 4 broadcast, and we've paused the TV feed to match the internet radio feed and listen to Jerry, Ted Leitner, and Andy Masur.

Mr. Coleman is known for his famous "Ohhh Doctor!" call when something really good happen to the Padres, and "You can hang a star on that one!" for a great defensive play.  After a good play we always look up to the booth to see if Jerry will actually hang a star out the booth attached to a string.  He is a marvelous announcer who was honored in 2005 with the Ford C. Frick Award at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

But he should be most remembered for his service to this country and all Americans for defending our freedoms in both World War II and the Korean War.  He was a Marine Corp pilot and flew 57 combat mission in the Pacific during WW II. 

After WW II he went back to his career as a minor league baseball player and was promoted to the Yankees in 1949.  He was a good hitting, great fielding 2nd baseman for the dominant Yankees.  He won the MVP award for the 1950 World Series.

In 1952 he was called to military duty again; this time for the Korean Conflict.  He flew another 63 missions.  His couragous and decorated service earned him 2 Distinguished Crosses, 13 Air Medals, and 3 Navy Citations.

When asked about his military career he quickly dismisses it and labels those who gave their lives during the wars as the real heroes.  But he is one of my greatest heroes.

Thanks Mr. Coleman.