with the Detroit Tigers, today pitched his teammates to an 11-lnnlng 4 to 2 victory over the Boston Red Sox." For the remainder of the 1937 season, Coffman was used principally as a reliever by the Tigers, appearing in 28 games, but only five as a starter. He compiled a record of 7–5 in 101 innings pitched with a 4.37 earned run average. In 1938, Coffman continued in his role as a relief pitcher for Detroit. His 39 games was ninth most in the American League, and only six of his appearances were as a starter. He finished the 1938 season with a record of 4–4 and an earned run average of 6.02 in innings pitched. When Coffman entered a game in 1938, one of the local writers grabbed the announcer's microphone and drawled, "Gawge (Slick) Coffman now pitchin' fuh Dee-troit." Coffman reportedly had "an accent thicker than Judge Landis' hair." Coffman was with the Tigers in June 1939 when Lou Gehrig was pulled from the Yankees lineup in a game at Briggs Stadium. Coffman recalled, "Gehrig took infield practice as always that day and many fans were unaware that a historic event was about to take place. We had already been informed by Manager Del Baker that Lou would not play. When the announcement was made that Gehrig was being removed from the lineup it shook a sellout crowd up like nothing before had ever done. They gave the Ole Iron Horse a standing ovation which one would have to see to believe." St. Louis Browns After the 1939 season, the Tigers traded Coffman. He was initially traded with Benny McCoy to the Philadelphia Athletics for outfielder Wally Moses. However, the trade was cancelled when Judge Landis declared several Detroit players, including McCoy, to be free agents. After the first trade fell apart, Coffman was traded to the St. Louis Browns for catcher Billy Sullivan. Recognizing that Coffman was angry over the Tigers' decision to trade him, the Browns' manager designated Coffman as the Browns' starting pitcher on opening day in April 1940. In front of nearly 50,000 Detroit fans, Coffman beat Detroit's Bobo Newsom. One newspaper account reported, "The day's biggest turnout, 49,417 customers at Detroit, had to watch their Tigers take a 5-1 lashing by the St. Louis Browns behind the seven-hit hurling of George 'Slick' Coffman, whom Detroit discarded during the winter." Second run in minor