| Claude Osteen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1939-08-09)August 9, 1939 (age 86) Caney Spring, Tennessee, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 6, 1957, for the Cincinnati Redlegs | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 1975, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 196–195 |
| Earned run average | 3.30 |
| Strikeouts | 1,612 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
As player
As coach | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Claude Wilson Osteen (born August 9, 1939), nicknamed "Gomer" because of his resemblance to television characterGomer Pyle,[1] is an American former professionalbaseball left-handedpitcher who played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theCincinnati Redlegs/Reds,Washington Senators,Los Angeles Dodgers,Houston Astros,St. Louis Cardinals, andChicago White Sox.[2]
Osteen signed with theCincinnati Redlegs in 1957, after completing high school, and joined the major-league team without first playing inMinor League Baseball.[1] While this was the era of "bonus babies"—players that the league required to be carried on a major-league roster, due to having a largesigning bonus[3]—Osteen received a bonus below the threshold.[4]
Osteen made his major-league debut on July 6, 1957, and was with the team for parts of four seasons. However, he never really received a season-long chance tostart in Cincinnati and was traded on September 16, 1961, to theWashington Senators for pitcherDave Sisler.[2]
With the Senators, Osteen got a chance to start regularly in the big leagues, albeit with a consistently sub-.500 team. After posting a winning record (15–13) in 1964,[2] he was in much demand that winter. On December 4, 1964, Osteen was traded by the Senators to theLos Angeles Dodgers in a seven-player deal, with five players (two of whom wereFrank Howard andPete Richert) going to the Senators.[2][5] Osteen developed into one of the game's better starters in Los Angeles.
After two years with anearned run average (ERA) under 3.00 (1965–1966),[2] Osteen was considered a top-notch starter and a workhorse. In those two years, Osteen and the Dodgers reached two straightWorld Series (the only two he would reach in his career). In the1965 World Series, the Dodgers beat theMinnesota Twins in 7 games, with Osteen pitching brilliantly. He had a 0.64 ERA in the Series, with a 1–1 record including ashutout,[6] which came after teammatesDon Drysdale andSandy Koufax had lost their respective games (the first two games of the Series). In the1966 World Series, the Dodgers were beaten by theBaltimore Orioles in four games. Osteen was charged with theloss, in a 1–0 pitchers' duel withWally Bunker in Game 3, despite giving up only three hits in seven innings; ahome run byPaul Blair accounted for the game's only run. Osteen's final postseason statistics include a 0.86 ERA with sevenstrikeouts in 21innings pitched.
In1967, Osteen reached his firstAll-Star game. His season totals included a 17–17 record, a 3.22 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 2881⁄3 innings pitched. He hurled 14complete games, with five shutouts. In1968, Osteen was one of the game's consistent hard-luck losers; despite a very respectable 3.08 ERA, he only won 12 of 30 decisions. The 12 victories would be his fewest in a season from 1964 to 1973; the 18 losses tied him withRay Sadecki for the major league lead. In1969, Osteen won 20 games for the first time[2] and set a number of career highs, including 321 innings pitched, 183 strikeouts, 16 complete games, and 7 shutouts.
In the 1970s, Osteen was still pitching an average of 260 innings a year. In the1970 All-Star game, Osteen pitched three shutout innings, notching thewin, in a game most remembered for the play in whichPete Rose barreled intoRay Fosse to score the winning run in the 12th inning. Coincidentally, like Osteen, the pitcher and hitter involved in the walk-off single were also Tennessee natives:Jim Hickman (who had been a Dodger teammate of Osteen's in 1967) collected the hit off losing pitcherClyde Wright (coincidentally, Hickman and Wright would become Comeback Players of the Year in their respective leagues).
In1972, Osteen had a particularly strong year, finishing with 7 complete game victories in his last 9 starts. That year, he was 20–11, with a 2.64 ERA, in 252 innings pitched.[2]
Osteen made his 3rd and final All-Star team in1973, in what would prove to be his last real quality MLB campaign — and his last season with the Dodgers. That year, while pitching for a 2nd-place Dodger team, Osteen went 16–11 and posted a 3.31 ERA, while logging 33 starts, 12 complete games, and 3 shutouts. He had achieved double-figure wins each year, for 10 consecutive seasons (1964–1973).
Osteen was dealt along with minor-league right-handed pitcher David Culpepper from theDodgers to theHouston Astros forJimmy Wynn at theWinter Meetings on December 6, 1973.[7] Wynn would later help the Dodgers win the1974 NL pennant. The Astros traded Osteen to theSt. Louis Cardinals in August 1974. On September 11, 1974 he pitched 91⁄3 innings of relief against the New York Mets in a 25 inning game, won by St. Louis 4–3. He did not figure in the decision. In April 1975, he was released by the Cardinals and was signed by theChicago White Sox, for whom he played his final game on September 27, 1975. His release by the White Sox on April 5, 1976 was among the team's final roster cuts at the end ofspring training.[8] Over the course of an 18-year professional career, Osteen compiled 196 wins, 1,612 strikeouts, and a 3.30 ERA.[2]
As a batter, Osteen had a lifetime .188batting average, with 8 home runs, and 76runs batted in (RBI).[2] He was used aspinch hitter on a number of occasions. Defensively, he recorded a .971fielding percentage which was 18 points higher than the league average at his position.[2]
Beginning in1977, Osteen became a big leaguepitching coach for the Cardinals,Philadelphia Phillies,Texas Rangers, and Dodgers.[9] He also coached variousminor league teams.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Washington SenatorsOpening Day Starting pitcher 1964 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Los Angeles DodgersOpening Day Starting pitcher 1966 1968 1970 | Succeeded by |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by | St. Louis CardinalsPitching Coach 1977–1980 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Philadelphia PhilliesPitching Coach 1982–1988 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Texas RangersPitching Coach 1993–1994 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Los Angeles DodgersPitching Coach 1999–2000 | Succeeded by |
