Clarence Coleman (baseball)

Clarence "Pops" Coleman (born April 4, 1884) was an American baseball catcher in the pre-Negro leagues. He played for the All Nations, Chicago Union Giants, and the Indianapolis ABCs and was about 36 years old and past his prime when the Negro National League was formed in 1920, so he did not make the cut against younger players.

Clarence "Pops" Coleman
Catcher
Born: (1884-04-04)April 4, 1884
Louisville, Kentucky
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Teams

During the Pre-Negro leagues years of the 19-teens, Coleman caught for pitching greats such as John Donaldson, José Méndez,[2] Hurley McNair, Jim Jeffries, and later in his career of the 1920s, even caught for Satchel Paige. Sources often show, because of his advanced age, Coleman was nicknamed "Pops." Other sources say his nickname strayed into "Captain Cola."

In 1931, newspapers still show Clarence Coleman was working as a catcher for the travelling Gilkerson's Union Giants.[5] However, the newspaper claims his age at the time to be 54, and other records show he was 47 years old at the time.[6]

In the 1940s, when Coleman was in his 50s, he continued to live in Chicago with his family, according to Census reports. During 1942, when Coleman registered for selective service and the World War II draft, he reported that he was working for the Works Progress Administration at the milk depot.[6] His draft records and census records show he was married to Luvenia Coleman.

References
  1. "Union Giants Beat All Nations" Sibley Gazette, Sibley, IA, August 7, 1915
  2. "All Nations Still Winning - Win Two More in South Dak" Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks, ND, June 20, 1916, Page 10
  3. "Locals Beat Giants - Chicago Colored Team Drops Two Games Here." Times-Republican, Marshalltown, Iowa, September 29, 1919
  4. Riley, James A. (1994). The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues. New York: Carroll & Graf. ISBN 0-7867-0959-6.
  5. "Giants to Return Here" Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, July 19, 1931, Sunday, Sports Page 4, Column 4 to 6
  6. "United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V1VP-44V : accessed 29 January 2013), Clarence Coleman, 1942; citing NARA microfilm publications M1939, M1936, and M1937; FHL microfilm 2139871
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