Walter Gary "Rip" Coleman is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1955 to 1957 and 1959 to 1960 for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics and Baltimore Orioles. A native of Troy, New York he attended Syracuse University and Wake Forest University. Before the 1952 season, Coleman was signed by the Yankees. He made his big league debut with them about three years later, on August 15, 1955. He went 2?1 in 10 games in his rookie season. In 29 innings of work, he allowed 40 hits and 17 earned runs for a 5.28 ERA. He also walked 16 batters and struck out only 15. He appeared in one game in the 1955 World Series, giving up five hits in one inning of work. He showed great improvement in 1956, lowering his ERA to 3.67. In 29 games, he posted a 3?5 record with 42 walks and 42 strikeouts in 88�?? innings of work. On February 19, 1957, Coleman was involved in a multi-player trade between the Yankees and Athletics. The Yankees sent Coleman, Milt Graff, Billy Hunter, Mickey McDermott, Tom Morgan and Irv Noren to the Athletics for Art Ditmar, Bobby Shantz, Jack McMahan and Wayne Belardi. 

July 31st, 1931 in Troy  /  Died:   May 14th, 2004