Goose Goslin
From BR Bullpen
Leon Allen Goslin
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Weight 185 lb.
- Debut September 16, 1921
- Final Game September 25, 1938
- Born October 16, 1900 in Salem, NJ USA
- Died May 15, 1971 in Bridgeton, NJ USA
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1968
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[edit] Biographical Information
Goose Goslin was a multi-talented player whose closest comparison is Roberto Clemente, according to the similarity scores method. Goslin didn't often lead the league in major categories (although he won the batting title in 1928), and he was never the MVP, but he was frequently among the league leaders, as his Gray Ink score of 200 shows. He appeared in five World Series, winning with the 1924 Washington Senators and the 1935 Detroit Tigers.
Goslin didn't age particularly well, posting his best years between the ages of 23 and 30.
The all-time leader in games played by a New Jersey native (at least as of 2006). Goslin had a game-winning single in the bottom of the 9th of Game 6 of the 1935 World Series to deliver Detroit's first World Championship.
His Associated Press obituary says he got his nickname because he waved his arms as he went after fly balls. He supposedly had a good arm as a young outfielder until he tried shotputting at a school track near spring training; it was said his arm was never the same afterwards.
He played in Columbia, SC before the majors and was player-manager for Trenton after his major league career. In later life he ran a boat rental service in Southern New Jersey for many years.
Goslin died within three days of Heinie Manush, who Goslin beat out for the 1928 batting title.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- AL All-Star (1936)
- AL Batting Average Leader (1928)
- 2-time AL Triples Leader (1923 & 1925)
- AL RBI Leader (1924)
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 3 (1930, 1931 & 1936)
- 30-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1930)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 11 (1924-1928, 1930-1932 & 1934-1936)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 7 (1924-1926, 1930, 1931, 1934 & 1936)
- 200 Hits Seasons: 2 (1925 & 1926)
- Won two World Series with the Washington Senators (1924) and the Detroit Tigers (1935)
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1968
[edit] Further Reading
- Lawrence Ritter: The Glory of Their Times, The Macmillan Company, New York, 1966, pp. 251-261.
