Harry Ostdiek
From BR Bullpen
Henry Girard Ostdiek
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
- Debut September 10, 1904
- Final Game October 7, 1908
- Born April 12, 1881 in Ottumwa, IA USA
- Died May 6, 1956 in Minneapolis, MN USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Harry Ostdiek played in the majors in 1904 and 1908.
Harry was born in Ottumwa, IA in 1881. The only other major leaguer born in Iowa in 1881 was Buster Brown.
Harry played for Fort Wayne in 1903-04, and made his major league debut in September 1904. He was in 7 games for the 1904 Cleveland Naps, a team which finished 86-65. The other catchers on the team were all around 30: Harry Bemis, Fred Abbott and Fritz Buelow. Ostdiek had about the same batting average as Abbott and Buelow did that year.
Harry went back to Fort Wayne in 1905, and then played for other minor league teams through 1913. He was with Spokane from 1909-13, and was a player-manager in 1912-13.
He won the pennant with Spokane in 1910. Source: Spokane Indians.
In 1908 he came back to the majors with the 1908 Red Sox for one game on October 7.
