Claude Wilson Osteen (born August 9, 1939), nicknamed "Gomer" because of his resemblance to television character Gomer Pyle, is an American former professional baseball left-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds, Washington Senators, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, and Chicago White Sox.
Career
thumb|left|Osteen, circa 1959
Early career
Osteen signed with the Cincinnati Redlegs in 1957, after completing high school, and joined the major-league team without first playing in Minor League Baseball.—Osteen received a bonus below the threshold.
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 to start in Cincinnati and was traded on September 16, 1961, to the Washington Senators for pitcher Dave Sisler. Osteen developed into one of the game's better starters in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Dodgers
After two years with an earned run average (ERA) under 3.00 (–), which came after teammates Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax had lost their respective games (the first two games of the Series). In the 1966 World Series, the Dodgers were beaten by the Baltimore Orioles in four games. Osteen was charged with the loss, in a 1–0 pitchers' duel with Wally Bunker in Game 3, despite giving up only three hits in seven innings; a home run by Paul Blair accounted for the game's only run. Osteen's final postseason statistics include a 0.86 ERA with seven strikeouts in 21 innings pitched.
thumb|right|200px|Osteen in 1961
In , Osteen reached his first All-Star game. His season totals included a 17–17 record, a 3.22 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 288 innings pitched. He hurled 14 complete games, with five shutouts. In , 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 with Ray Sadecki for the major league lead. In , Osteen won 20 games for the first time Wynn would later help the Dodgers win the 1974 NL pennant. The Astros traded Osteen to the St. Louis Cardinals in August 1974. On September 11, 1974 he pitched 9 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 the Chicago 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 of spring training. Over the course of an 18-year professional career, Osteen compiled 196 wins, 1,612 strikeouts, and a 3.30 ERA. He also coached various minor league teams.
Highlights
- 3-time All-Star (1967, 1970, 1973)
- Top 10 in the league in games started, 10 times (1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975)
- 2nd in the league in shutouts 3 times (1967, 1969, 1970); top 10 in the league 3 more times (1971, 1972, 1973)
- Top 10 in the league in innings pitched, 6 times (1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972)
- Top 10 in ERA, 3 times (1965, 1966, 1972)
See also
- List of World Series starting pitchers
- List of Major League Baseball career shutout leaders
- List of baseball players who went directly to Major League Baseball