• Shipping $4.99 | FREE on orders $75+
  • Log in
  • Cart (0)
  • Checkout
  • Originals 
    • All Originals
    • Stadium Series
    • Philly Culture
    • Defunct Philly Teams
    • Philly Legends
  • Eagles

    All Eagles

    Newest Eagles

    By Person  

    Women
    Men
    Youth

    By Type  

    T-shirts
    Long sleeve
    Caps
    Winter Gear
    Collectibles

    By Brand  

    Shibe Originals
    Mitchell & Ness
    '47 Brand
    Junk Food

    View Eagles Best Sellers

  • 76ers
  • Phillies
  • Athletics
  • Flyers
  • Villanova
  • Kids
  • Art 
    • Word Art Prints
    • Minimalist Art
    • Books
    • Collectibles
    • Drinkware
    • Heritage Banners
    • Vintage Photos
  • Sale
  • Gift Cards
  • About

    Shibe Vintage Sports

    Designs by Philly artists

    View Lookbook

    Products  

    Gift Cards
    Lookbook
    All products
    Search Page

    Policies  

    Loyalty Program
    Giving Back
    Return Policy
    Size Charts

    Contact  

    Contact Us
    About Shibe
    Sign up for our emails
    Work at Shibe
    "Shibe Sports Presents" Podcast

    Shibe Sports History Blog

  • Originals 
    • All Originals
    • Stadium Series
    • Philly Culture
    • Defunct Philly Teams
    • Philly Legends
  • Eagles
  • All Eagles

    Newest Eagles

    By Person  

    Women
    Men
    Youth

    By Type  

    T-shirts
    Long sleeve
    Caps
    Winter Gear
    Collectibles

    By Brand  

    Shibe Originals
    Mitchell & Ness
    '47 Brand
    Junk Food

    View Eagles Best Sellers

  • 76ers
  • Phillies
  • Athletics
  • Flyers
  • Villanova
  • Kids
  • Art 
    • Word Art Prints
    • Minimalist Art
    • Books
    • Collectibles
    • Drinkware
    • Heritage Banners
    • Vintage Photos
  • Sale
  • Gift Cards
  • About
  • Shibe Vintage Sports

    Designs by Philly artists

    View Lookbook

    Products  

    Gift Cards
    Lookbook
    All products
    Search Page

    Policies  

    Loyalty Program
    Giving Back
    Return Policy
    Size Charts

    Contact  

    Contact Us
    About Shibe
    Sign up for our emails
    Work at Shibe
    "Shibe Sports Presents" Podcast

    Shibe Sports History Blog

The Shibe Vintage Sports History Blog

The Biggest Loser

June 22, 2012

You’ll find former Phillies pitcher John Coleman all over the record books, though I doubt he’d be happy to know that he’s still there. Coleman was the loser on opening day of the Phillies very first game, and it was a feeling the 20-year old would get to know quite well. He would march onto the mound as a starter 61 times that season, and take 48 losses, ending the year with a record of 12-48 (despite a bad but not historically awful 4.87 ERA. In other words, he was better than Joe Blanton is this year, at 6-6, 5.04 ERA). When he wasn’t pitching, he was playing the field, doing time at both first base and in the outfield.

Of course, the 1883 Phillies had no other options. Their number two pitcher, Art Hagen, went 1-14 with a 5.45 ERA. Funny story about Hagen: He was from Rhode Island, so when the Phillies travelled up to Rhode Island for a game, the manager decided to pitch Hagan in an effort to increase attendance. He would be facing Hall of Famer Old Hoss Radbourn. The game did draw a crowd, but their native son gave them little to cheer for, as the Phillies lost 28-0, still the most lopsided shutout loss in MLB history.

Back to Coleman: In 1884, he started the year for the Phillies, but switched over to the Athletics of the American Association, aka the “Beer and Whiskey League”, midway through the season (that franchise had no relation to the A’s of Connie Mack). Once in the AA, he was used almost exclusively as a fielder. He actually became a pretty decent hitter in the AA as well, batting .299 with 70 RBIs in 1885. He headed out west to Pittsburgh, where he played for both the AA team and the NL team. He hung up the cleats after an 1890 season with the Pirates, presumably hoping that someday someone would break that awful record. They never did, and barring the advent of the 760 game season, they never will. John Coleman is an eternal record holder. When it comes to pitching, he will always be baseball’s biggest loser. And still better than Joe Blanton.

 



Tweet Share Pin It Email

Also in The Shibe Vintage Sports History Blog

Play Shibe Super Squares - Support Youth Football in Philly

February 02, 2025

Continue Reading

Support the Camp Out for Hunger Campaign

December 02, 2024

Continue Reading

Shibe Vintage Sports Celebrates 10 Years with Beer Release, Tailgate Party

July 08, 2024

Continue Reading

+Subscribe

+Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Shibe Lookbook
Quick Links
  • Search
  • Lookbook
  • Shipping
  • Loyalty Program
  • The Shibe History Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Returns
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Refund policy


Visit Shibe

137 S. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107


106 East Lancaster Ave.
Wayne, PA 19087


1518 Paoli Pike
West Chester, PA 19380

78 Rittenhouse Place
Ardmore, PA 19003


215-909-9396
team@shibesports.com


© 2014-2025 Shibe Vintage Sports.