Donald Edwin Osborn (June 23, 1908 – March 23, 1979) was an Americanpitcher andmanager inminor league baseball and ascout,farm system official andpitching coach at theMajor League level. Born inSandpoint, Idaho, Osborn threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg).
Osborn's professional playing career began in 1929, and while he never reached the Major Leagues as a pitcher, he enjoyed great success in thePacific Coast League (1936–38; 1943–47) and theWestern International League (1938–42). He won 22 games for the 1936Seattle Indians, and in 1942 led the WIL in victories (22), winning percentage (.815) andearned run average (1.63) as the playing manager of the league championVancouver Capilanos. It was Osborn's first year as a manager. He would lead teams in thefarm systems of theChicago Cubs andPhiladelphia Phillies through 1957 before joining thePittsburgh Pirates in 1958 as a roving troubleshooter and managerial consultant in their minor league system.
In1963, Osborn was named pitching coach of the Pirates and would serve three terms in that post—1963–64; 1970–72; and 1974–76. During most of that time, he worked under managerDanny Murtaugh, and was a member of the1971 World Series championPirates club. At age 70, Osborn was appointed pitching coach of the Bucs for a fourth time after the1978 season, this time by skipperChuck Tanner, but declining health forced his resignation a few weeks after his appointment.
He died, aged 70, inTorrance, California, duringspring training in March 1979.
As a minor league pitcher, Osborn won 199 games, losing 119 for a .626winning percentage. According toThe Sporting News' Official Baseball Register, Osborn was nicknamed "The Wizard of Oz" for his pitching mastery. His record as a minor-league manager was 929–751 (.553) with four championships.
| Preceded by | Pittsburgh Piratespitching coach 1963–1964 1970–1972 1974–1976 | Succeeded by |