Goose Goslin

Leon Allen "Goose" Goslin (October 16, 1900 – May 15, 1971) was an American professional baseball left fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until .

Goslin led the American League (AL) in triples two times and finished the season with a batting average of over .300 eleven times. He won the AL batting title in 1928 with a .379 batting average which set a Washington Senators record. He led the AL in assists five times, putouts four times and his 4,141 putouts and 181 assists as a left fielder are both 5th all time. His 173 triples are 22nd all time and his .316 batting average is 7th all time among left fielders with over 2,000 games played. A two time World Series winner, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968 via the Veterans Committee.

Early years

Born in Salem, New Jersey, in 1900.

Goslin was discovered by famed scout Joe Engel. After hearing from Engel, Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith personally scouted Goslin and attended a game in Columbia, South Carolina. A fly ball hit Goslin on the head, and another barely missed him. Goslin hit three home runs in the game, and Griffith decided to take a chance on him.

"Goose"

Goslin's difficulty in judging fly balls contributed to his nickname "Goose." Opposing players said Goslin resembled a bird flapping its wings when he ran after a ball with his arms waving. and his throwing arm was never the same afterward.

Washington Senators (1933)

On December 14, 1932, Goslin was traded back to the Senators. Goslin led the Senators back to the 1933 World Series. The Senators played in only three World Series in their history, and Goslin played for the Senators in every game of those Series. However, Goslin did not have his usual power in 1933. His 64 RBIs and .452 slugging percentage were Goslin's lowest numbers since his rookie season. Goslin later recounted that owner Clark Griffith told him that he simply couldn't afford to pay him. Even though the Senators had made it to the World Series, the team was not making money. In Detroit, Goslin joined Charlie Gehringer and Hank Greenberg with the trio being known as Detroit's "G-Men". Goslin appeared in 151 games for the 1934 Tigers, including 145 as the team's starting left fielder. He ranked 14th in the American League most valuable player voting with a .305 batting average, 100 RBIs, 106 runs scored, and 38 doubles. He helped the team win the American League pennant with a 101–53 record.

Goslin had another strong season in 1935, tallying 111 RBIs, 87 runs scored, 56 bases on balls and 34 doubles. He helped the Tigers win their second consecutive American League pennant. In the 1935 World Series, he compiled a .407 on-base percentage.

In 1936, Goslin had his best season in Detroit, compiling a .315 batting average, .403 on-base percentage, 66 extra-base hits, 125 RBIs, and 122 runs scored. He was also selected for the first time in his career to the American League All-Star team.

In 1937, Goslin's batting average plummeted by 77 points to .238—the lowest average of his career to date. He also lost his spot as the Tigers' regular left fielder, starting only 39 games at the position. he was unconditionally released by the Tigers.

Washington Senators (1938)

After his release by the Tigers, Goslin later recounted (in "The Glory of Their Times") that he received a call from his old boss, Clark Griffith, asking him if he would be interested in ending his career back where it began in Washington. Goslin accepted the offer but batted only .158 in 38 games for the Senators during the 1938 season.

Goslin holds the record for career home runs at the first Yankee Stadium by a visiting player, with 32.

Later years

thumb|170px|right|Add for Goslin's fishing camp, 1950

In April 1939, Goslin became a player-manager for the Trenton Senators of the Interstate League. He remained manager at Trenton until August 1941.

Goslin married Marion Wallace in Philadelphia in 1940. They lived in Glassboro, New Jersey. They had no children. His wife died in January 1959 after a long illness.

Goslin was a lifelong resident of South Jersey. He owned a big house in Glassboro, New Jersey, for many years, but he sold it after his wife died. In the early 1940s, he also purchased over 60 acres of meadowland in Bayside, Greenwich Township, along Stow Creek. The property included a dozen buildings, over 40 boats, a restaurant, and a sundeck with tables and chairs. Goslin spent his summers on the property during his marriage and later lived on the property, renting boats, fishing tackle, and cabins and selling fish, crabs, and lunches. At one point, he shipped 100 bushels or more each day from the property.

Goslin was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968 by the Veterans Committee. At the induction ceremony in July 1968, Goslin became overwhelmed by emotion and said: "I have been lucky. I want to thank God, who gave me the health and strength to compete with these great players. I will never forget this. I will take this to my grave."

Goslin retired from his boat rental business in 1969 after his health declined. He was hospitalized in January 1969 for treatment of burns to his abdomen, after his couch caught fire when he fell asleep while smoking. He also had his larynx removed in July 1970. In May 1971, Goslin died at Bridgetown Hospital in Bridgeton, New Jersey, at age 70 and was buried in the Salem Baptist Cemetery in Salem, New Jersey.

Honors and legacy

In 1999, Goslin 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. Goslin ranked #6 on the Sports Illustrated list of The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures.

The South Jersey chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research, located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, is named after Goslin.

References

External links

, or Retrosheet