Richard "Dick" Coffman
Class of 2004

Richard
Limestone County's Samuel Richard "Dick" Coffman played against such baseball legends as Lefty Grove and Babe Ruth in his major league baseball career. Coffman started his big league career in 1927 with the Washington Senators.

Before he turned professional, he played on the 1925 Athens Independent team that won the Tennessee Valley Championship.

Coffman's big league career began with the Washington Senators in 1927--then traded to the St. Louis Browns--back to the Senators, and then back to St. Louis Browns until 1935.

Coffman spent 15 years in major league baseball playing against the greats. He played against Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig. He also played in 1936 and 1937 World Series while pitching for the Giants.

What Coffman is best known for is breaking Lefty Grove's 16-game winning streak. He was playing with the Browns, who were at last place, and he pitched a 1-0,. 16-inning game against the Philadelphia Athletics, denying Lefty Grove a 17th consecutive win. Neither Coffman nor Grove ever forgot the game.

In his 18 year major league career, Coffman was 72-95 with an ERA of 4.65.