Vince Coleman was a common name in the ’90s and has recently popped up. One of the most shocking things to make the headlines was Vince Coleman abandoning his daughter, Taylor Coleman.
Despite experiencing success in his early years, Coleman was plagued with controversies. From having feuds with his manager and coach to being investigated for rape allegations, Coleman was always in the news.
However, abandoning his daughter in 2002 is probably one of the most frowned-upon things for his fans.
Vincent Maurice Coleman, born September 22, 1961, is an American former baseball player known for his time with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Coleman had a prolific start to his baseball journey, setting the all-time stolen base record in a single season for Florida A&M.
Moreover, the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame also played football for the Florida A&M football team as a punter and a kicker.
However, Coleman opted for a baseball career when he was drafted in the 10th round of the 1982 MLB draft by the Cardinals.
Furthermore, he played with the New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, and Detroit Tigers before announcing his retirement in May 1998.
However, his later years were plagued by injuries and controversies. In 1993, he threw an explosive device at a crowd of fans waiting to get his autograph.
Nonetheless, in his professional MLB career, he garnered several accolades, including the two-time All-Star, NL Rookie of the Year, and 6-time NL Stolen base leader.
Vince Coleman’s Daughter: Taylor Coleman
Taylor Coleman, born in 1994, is the daughter of Vince Coleman. Sadly for Taylor, Coleman had abandoned his daughter when she was eight, leaving her and her mother to fend for themselves.
Being a child of a famous personality is always challenging. For Taylor, her challenges doubled as she could see two versions of her father.
On one hand, she saw him like everyone else, as a loved and cherished sportsman. On the other hand, she also saw him abandoning his family and refusing to acknowledge his child.
However, Taylor persevered. Braced by the strength of her single mother, Taylor earned a college degree and now runs a successful business in cybersecurity.
In addition, Taylor, 31, has written a memoir, “A Letter To My Dead Beat Dad: The Facade Is Over,” detailing her father and his leaving the family.
Writing The Memoir
Taylor is the perfect example of someone who had to fight intense battles and turn their pain and trauma into something productive.
While her mother was her biggest role model, she found three more in her grandmother and two teachers, Mrs. Pittman and Coach Fahrner, from school.
She claims that the two teachers always treated her kindly and instilled the kindness they always had for her.
Her grandmother, on her mother’s side, was another woman in her life who epitomized strength and resilience.
According to Taylor, her grandmother grew up very poor. However, she never lost the gift of seeing life with kind eyes and made a beautiful life for herself.
When Taylor began writing, she didn’t know what she was getting herself into. However, she claims the experience proved both exhausting and uplifting.
Moreover, she wrote this memoir because she knew she had a story to tell. She believed that some people could relate to the story and find a semblance of comfort.
In a recent interview, she said, “I spent my whole life keeping my abandonment and trauma a secret.” She added, “I want the readers to know my anger and sadness, as well as feel the love that I still have for my father.”
She claimed she met him years later, at a Cardinals store in 2022. However, the former athlete refused to answer her questions and wouldn’t meet his daughter’s eyes.
Taylor is still hopeful that she will have a relationship with her father. She stated she is still close with her half-brothers from his father’s first marriage.
