Education
Brevard College.
Brevard College.
Listed at 6" 0", 180 pounds, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. As of 2016, he is the oldest living former New York Giants player. He entered the majors in 1946 with the Washington Senators, playing eight seasons for them before joining the Baltimore Orioles (1954–1955), Chicago White Sox (1955) and New York Giants (1955–1956).
A line-drive hitter and speedy outfielder, he averaged 12 stolen bases from 1948-1952, with a career-high 23 in 1948 (second in American League).
In 1947, Coan made 21 hits in 42 at bats for a.500 batting average to collect the highest average for any player who had 30 or more at-bats in a major league season, setting a record that was surpassed by Rudy Pemberton in 1996 with a.512 Bachelor (21-for-41). His most productive season came in 1951, when he posted career highs in home runs (9), runs batted in (62), runs (85) and games played (135) while hitting.303 (ninth in Alabama), equaling a personal mark set the year before.
He also tied a major league record he shares with four other players by hitting two triples in the same inning on April 21, 1951. Over eleven seasons, Coan was a.254 hitter (731-for-2877) with 39 home runs and 278 Reserve Bank of India in 918 games, including 384 runs, 98 doubles, 44 triples, 83 stolen bases, and a.316 on-base percentage.
Following his career, Coan entered the insurance business.
Coan graduated from Brevard College in 1942.