Dave Hoskins
From BR Bullpen
David Taylor Hoskins
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.
- Debut April 18, 1953
- Final Game September 21, 1954
- Born August 3, 1922 in Greenwood, MS USA
- Died April 2, 1970 in Flint, MI USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Dave Hoskins was originally an outfielder with the Cincinnati Clowns and Homestead Grays in the Negro Leagues. Hoskins was recommended to the Cleveland Indians by none other than the great Satchel Paige, who told general manager Hank Greenberg, "You better sign this fella. He can hit. I know because I could never get him out." So the Indians signed Dave in 1950 and he changed his mind about playing the outfield and became a pitcher. Hoskins is quoted about his switch to the mound after being hospitalized by a beanball. "I was tired of pitchers throwing at me and made up my mind to throw at other guys." Dave warmed up in the Eastern League with the Wilkes-Barre Indians in 1951 where he went 5-1 with a 3.60 ERA and also hit for a .286 average. In 1952 he integrated the Texas League and drew big crowds when he was on the mound. His 22 victories led the league, plus he hit .328 for the pennant winning Dallas Eagles.
He joined the Cleveland Indians in 1953 and in an early season game came on in relief for Bob Feller with the Indians trailing 3-0. He hurled shutout ball the rest of the way while hitting a home run and a double and driving in four runs in his first big league victory. Hoskins finished the year with a 9-3 record with a 3.99 ERA but the 28 year old was used sparingly for the 1954 pennant winners, losing his only decision in 14 games. It was easy to see why Dave's time on the mound diminished when you look at the staff the Indians fielded. Three of the Indians' rotation finished in the top five in the league in ERA - Mike Garcia, Hall of Famer Bob Lemon, and Hall of Famer Early Wynn. Along with Hall of Famer Bob Feller, didn't leave much room for Hoskins. The Indians were over-whelmed by the New York Giants 4-0 in the series and Dave did not play. This was Hoskins last appearance in a big league uniform and he signed off his two year stay with a 9-4 record and a 3.81 ERA.
Dave spent the next six seasons in the minors (1955-1960). He was with Indianapolis Indians in 1955, San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League in 1956 and the Louisville Colonels in 1957, where he had below average years. However the 32 year old right-hander went back to his favorite ball club in Dallas where he had done so well before and lit up the league with a 17-8 record and a 3.18 ERA and pitched a whopping 246 innings. This was to be his last hurrah as his next two seasons didn't go to well and Dave would wind up his eleven year minor league career in 1960 with a lifetime 78-69 record and a 3.83 ERA.
After baseball Dave was employed with General Motors in Flint, MI, where he died of a heart attack on April 2, 1970, at age 45.
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