Dan Osinski
Encyclopedia
Daniel Osinski is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. The 6'2", 195 lb. right-hander was signed by the Cleveland Indians
as an amateur free agent before the 1952 season. He played for the Kansas City Athletics
(1962), Los Angeles Angels
(1962–1964), Milwaukee Braves
(1965), Boston Red Sox
(1966–1967), Chicago White Sox
(1969), and Houston Astros
(1970).
Osinski made his major league debut in relief on April 11, 1962 against the Minnesota Twins
at Kansas City Municipal Stadium. He pitched the top of the 9th inning and gave up three earned run
s in the 8-0 Athletics loss. He struck out one batter, second baseman
Bernie Allen
. He pitched in three more games that month, continued to be ineffective, and was sent down to the minor leagues. Then, on July 21, the A's traded him to the Los Angeles Angels. This turned out to be a big break for Osinski.
He pitched very well out of the Angel bullpen
for the rest of the season, along with Bob Botz
, Dean Chance
, Art Fowler
, Tom Morgan
, and Jack Spring
. Osinski earned his first big league save
three days after the trade with two scoreless innings
in game 2 of a home doubleheader
against Baltimore
. Then, just nine days later, he got his first win
with a scoreless inning against the Indians
in Cleveland.
In 33 games for the Angels in his rookie
year Osinski was 6-4 with 4 saves and an ERA
of 2.82. When his Kansas City statistics are added, his final ERA was 3.97.
During his career he started 21 games but usually appeared in relief. The best of his starts was a three-hit, 1-0 shutout
over the Chicago White Sox on June 4, 1963 at Chavez Ravine
.
From 1963 to 1969 his ERA ranged from 2.54 to 3.61. In 1967 he was part of the Red Sox "Impossible Dream" team
. He had a 3-1 record with two saves for Boston and appeared in two World Series
games against the St. Louis Cardinals
. Released by Boston during spring training
in 1968, the Chicago native saw service that year with Hawaii in the Pacific Coast League, and pitched his way back to the majors in 1969 with the hometown White Sox, compiling a 5-5 record. He was sold to the Houston Astros during the off-season,where he ended his major league career with three appearances in 1970. After the season, he was placed on the roster of the Houston AAA club at Oklahoma City and was claimed by the San Diego Padres, but retired. Osinski's retirement plans were mentioned in the book I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally when he was briefly a teammate of Jim Bouton
in Triple-A Oklahoma City.
His major league career totals include a 29-28 record in 324 games pitched
, 21 games started
, 5 complete game
s, 2 shutout
s, 122 games finished
, 18 saves, and an ERA of 3.34. He had 400 strikeouts in 589.2 innings pitched
for a 6.11 K/9IP, slightly higher than the major league average during his era. He made no errors
in his last five seasons (193 games).
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. The 6'2", 195 lb. right-hander was signed by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
as an amateur free agent before the 1952 season. He played for the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1962), Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
(1962–1964), Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1965), Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1966–1967), Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1969), and Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(1970).
Osinski made his major league debut in relief on April 11, 1962 against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
at Kansas City Municipal Stadium. He pitched the top of the 9th inning and gave up three earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s in the 8-0 Athletics loss. He struck out one batter, second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Bernie Allen
Bernie Allen
Bernard Keith "Bernie" Allen was a Major League Baseball player for the Minnesota Twins, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, and Montreal Expos. At 6' 0" and 185 lbs, Allen was a second-baseman for most of his career...
. He pitched in three more games that month, continued to be ineffective, and was sent down to the minor leagues. Then, on July 21, the A's traded him to the Los Angeles Angels. This turned out to be a big break for Osinski.
He pitched very well out of the Angel bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
for the rest of the season, along with Bob Botz
Bob Botz
Robert Allen Botz is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. The , right-hander was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent before the 1955 season...
, Dean Chance
Dean Chance
Wilmer Dean Chance is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Over the right hander's 11-year major league career, he would play for the Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, and Detroit Tigers...
, Art Fowler
Art Fowler
John Arthur Fowler was an American pitcher and pitching coach in Major League Baseball. The 5'11", 180 lb. right-hander was signed by the New York Giants as an amateur free agent before the 1944 season...
, Tom Morgan
Tom Morgan (baseball)
Tom Stephen Morgan was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A native of El Monte, California, the 6'2", 195 lb. right-hander was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent before the 1949 season...
, and Jack Spring
Jack Spring
Jack Russell Spring is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. The , left-hander played for the Philadelphia Phillies , Boston Red Sox , Washington Senators , Los Angeles Angels , Chicago Cubs , St...
. Osinski earned his first big league save
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
three days after the trade with two scoreless innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
in game 2 of a home doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against Baltimore
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. Then, just nine days later, he got his first win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
with a scoreless inning against the Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in Cleveland.
In 33 games for the Angels in his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
year Osinski was 6-4 with 4 saves and an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 2.82. When his Kansas City statistics are added, his final ERA was 3.97.
During his career he started 21 games but usually appeared in relief. The best of his starts was a three-hit, 1-0 shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
over the Chicago White Sox on June 4, 1963 at Chavez Ravine
Chávez Ravine
Chavez Ravine is an area in Sulfir Canyon that is the current site of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.It was named after Julian Chavez, a Los Angeles Councilman in the 19th century.-History:...
.
From 1963 to 1969 his ERA ranged from 2.54 to 3.61. In 1967 he was part of the Red Sox "Impossible Dream" team
1967 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season, often referred to as The Impossible Dream, consisted of the Red Sox shocking New England and the rest of the baseball world by winning the American League Championship and reaching the World Series for the first time since 1946...
. He had a 3-1 record with two saves for Boston and appeared in two World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
games against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Released by Boston during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1968, the Chicago native saw service that year with Hawaii in the Pacific Coast League, and pitched his way back to the majors in 1969 with the hometown White Sox, compiling a 5-5 record. He was sold to the Houston Astros during the off-season,where he ended his major league career with three appearances in 1970. After the season, he was placed on the roster of the Houston AAA club at Oklahoma City and was claimed by the San Diego Padres, but retired. Osinski's retirement plans were mentioned in the book I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally when he was briefly a teammate of Jim Bouton
Jim Bouton
James Alan "Jim" Bouton is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He is also the author of the controversial baseball book Ball Four, which was a combination diary of his season and memoir of his years with the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, and Houston Astros.-Amateur and college...
in Triple-A Oklahoma City.
His major league career totals include a 29-28 record in 324 games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
, 21 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, 5 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, 2 shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, 122 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
, 18 saves, and an ERA of 3.34. He had 400 strikeouts in 589.2 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
for a 6.11 K/9IP, slightly higher than the major league average during his era. He made no errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in his last five seasons (193 games).