Goose Goslin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Personal Info | |
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| Birth | October 16, 1900, Salem, New Jersey |
| Death: | May 15, 1971, Bridgeton, New Jersey |
| Professional Career | |
| Debut | September 16, 1921, Washington Senators vs. Cleveland Indians, Griffith Stadium |
| Team(s) | As Player |
| HOF induction: | 1968 |
| Career Highlights | |
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Leon Allen Goslin (October 16, 1900 – May 15, 1971), better known as Goose Goslin, was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played eighteen seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from 1921 until 1938.
[edit] Playing career
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| Goose Goslin is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame |
Born in Salem, New Jersey, Goslin broke into the Majors with the Washington Senators in 1921 and played his first full season in 1923, batting .300 with 9 home runs and 99 RBI. He was discovered by legendary baseball promoter, Joe Engel, who managed the Chattanooga Lookouts at Engel Stadium. He established himself as one of the league's premier run producers the following season, batting .344 and driving in 129 runs. He led the Senators to their first World Series championship that season; he contributed 3 home runs and 7 RBI in the series.
Goslin continued his productivity consistently throughout his career, driving in 100 or more runs 11 times and hitting .300 or higher 11 times, while playing for the Senators (1921 - 1930, 1933, 1938), St. Louis Browns (1930 - 1932) and Detroit Tigers (1934 - 1937). He won his second and final World Series with the Tigers in 1935 and finished his career with a .316 average, 248 home runs, 1609 RBI (24th overall) and 175 stolen bases.
Goslin is one of only three players to be the last hitter of two World Series, having struck out to end the 1925 World Series and won the 1935 World Series with a walk-off RBI single. Edgar Renteria won the 1997 Series with a walk-off RBI single and ended the 2004 World Series with a groundout to the pitcher. Boss Schmidt of the Detroit Tigers ended the 1907 World Series by popping up and the 1908 World Series by grounding out.
During his career, Goslin was known for having a very outgoing, and sometimes annoying personality, which is how he earned his nickname, "Goose". He was loved by the media because he gave good quotes but was disliked by his peers on the baseball diamond.
Goslin was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968. He was one of three players born in New Jersey to be elected to the Hall of Fame, and one of five to have attended school in the State – in each case, the only one from the southern part of the State. In 1999, he ranked Number 89 on The Sporting News list of Baseball's Greatest Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. He also holds the record for most home runs hit at Yankee Stadium by an opposing player (32).
He died in Bridgeton, New Jersey, and is buried in the Baptist Cemetery, Salem, New Jersey.
[edit] See also
- Top 500 home run hitters of all time
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- MLB players who have hit 3 home runs over consecutive innings
[edit] External links
- Baseball Hall of Fame
- Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis
| Preceded by Babe Ruth |
American League RBI Champion 1924 |
Succeeded by Bob Meusel |
| Preceded by Harry Heilmann |
American League Batting Champion 1928 |
Succeeded by Lew Fonseca |
Categories: Baseball Hall of Fame | American League All-Stars | Washington Senators players | St. Louis Browns players | Detroit Tigers players | Major league left fielders | People from New Jersey | Major league players from New Jersey | Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey | 1900 births | 1971 deaths | Baseball players who have hit for the cycle | American League batting champions | American League RBI champions
