Goodwin Rosen
Encyclopedia
Goodwin George "Goody" Rosen (August 28, 1912 – April 6, 1994) was a Canadian center fielder
in Major League Baseball
. From 1937 through 1946, Rosen played outfield for the Brooklyn Dodgers
(1937–39, 1944–46) and New York Giants
(1946). He batted and threw left handed.
—and attended Parkdale Collegiate Institute
. His brother Jack was a boxer under the ring name Jackie Rose. As a teenager, Rosen was a top player in Toronto's Jewish Fraternal Softball League. Rosen drove to Tampa, Florida
, to try out with some minor league professional baseball teams, but he was told he was too small (5 ft 9 in) and returned to Toronto to play for the St. Mary's senior team.
of the International League
, but didn't stick with the team. In 1933, he joined the Louisville Colonels
of the American Association
and played under manager Burleigh Grimes
. When Grimes joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1937, he convinced the team to acquire Rosen in August for $10,000 ($ today) and a player. Rosen broke into the major leagues hitting .312 in 22 games with the Dodgers. In 1938, his first full season, he hit .281, finishing sixth in the National League
in triples
(11) and leading all league outfielder
s in fielding percentage
(.989) and assist
s (19). The next season, he split his time between the Dodgers and their International League affiliate, the Montreal Royals
.
He then joined the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League, and played there from 1940 until being re-acquired by the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1944 season.
With the Dodgers, he enjoyed the best year of his career in 1945, finishing 10th in voting for Most Valuable Player Award with a .325 batting average
(3rd in NL), 197 hits
(2nd), 126 runs
(2nd), 11 triples (3rd), 606 at bats (6th) and a .460 slugging percentage (6th), a .379 on base percentage (9th), 14 sacrifice hits (10th), 12 home run
s and 19 outfield assists. In that season, he also had the distinction of being the first Canadian major leaguer to be named to the All-Star Game.
Three games into the 1946 season, Rosen was traded to the Dodgers' cross-town rivals, the New York Giants. It would be his last year in the major leagues. Before the end of the season, he was sent down to the Jersey City Giants
of the International League.
Rosen rejected an offer from Jersey City to return in 1947 and said he would only continue to play if he were sent to Toronto, where he had opened a restaurant. The deal was made, and Rosen played for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League in 1947. After a poor season, he was given an unconditional release, ending his professional baseball career.
Fastball League, winning the league championship in 1949. Gooden started the 1950 season playing for the world champion Tip Top Tailors
team in the Beaches league but then returned to baseball as player-manager of the Galt Terriers of the Intercounty Baseball League
. He was named manager of the Ontario all-star team that played the Maple Leafs in an exhibition game in August. Rosen returned to softball and the Beaches league in 1951, playing for Peoples Credit Jewellers, and then retired.
After he retired he owned and ran the Dunsway Restaurant in Toronto at Bloor
and Dundas street
. He was also a business executive and was still popular in baseball circles, as he was answering about 2,000 pieces of fan mail annually in his later years. He died in Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital on April 6, 1994, at age 81.
in .
His .291 career batting average is eighth-best of all Jewish major leaguers (directly behind Ron Blomberg
), through 2010. Rosen said that his "proudest accomplishment was being the only Jewish Canadian ever to play in the majors." He held that distinction for almost 70 years. It was not until that the Major Leagues saw another Jewish Canadian when London, Ontario-born Adam Stern
suited up for the Boston Red Sox
.
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
in Major League Baseball
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...
. From 1937 through 1946, Rosen played outfield for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1937–39, 1944–46) and New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1946). He batted and threw left handed.
Early years
Born in Toronto to Russian Jewish immigrants, Rosen played in the city's playground leagues—including two years with the Elizabeth Playground team under Bob AbateBob Abate
Robert Abate was a Canadian sports coach and the driving force behind the Elizabeth Playground sports teams in Toronto...
—and attended Parkdale Collegiate Institute
Parkdale Collegiate Institute
Parkdale Collegiate Institute is a public high school located on Jameson Avenue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1888 in the community of Parkdale.-History:Parkdale High School opened in the Masonic Hall on Dowling Avenue in 1888...
. His brother Jack was a boxer under the ring name Jackie Rose. As a teenager, Rosen was a top player in Toronto's Jewish Fraternal Softball League. Rosen drove to Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, to try out with some minor league professional baseball teams, but he was told he was too small (5 ft 9 in) and returned to Toronto to play for the St. Mary's senior team.
Professional baseball
Rosen turned professional in 1931, signing a contract with the Rochester Red WingsRochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, but didn't stick with the team. In 1933, he joined the Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels (minor league baseball team)
The Louisville Colonels was the name of several minor league baseball teams that played in Louisville, Kentucky, in the 20th century. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels.-Twentieth century minor league teams:...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
and played under manager Burleigh Grimes
Burleigh Grimes
Burleigh Arland Grimes was an American professional baseball player, and the last pitcher officially permitted to throw the spitball. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1954. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.-Career:Nicknamed "Ol' Stubblebeard", Grimes was...
. When Grimes joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1937, he convinced the team to acquire Rosen in August for $10,000 ($ today) and a player. Rosen broke into the major leagues hitting .312 in 22 games with the Dodgers. In 1938, his first full season, he hit .281, finishing sixth in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(11) and leading all league outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
s in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(.989) and assist
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
s (19). The next season, he split his time between the Dodgers and their International League affiliate, the Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
.
He then joined the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League, and played there from 1940 until being re-acquired by the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1944 season.
With the Dodgers, he enjoyed the best year of his career in 1945, finishing 10th in voting for Most Valuable Player Award with a .325 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(3rd in NL), 197 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(2nd), 126 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(2nd), 11 triples (3rd), 606 at bats (6th) and a .460 slugging percentage (6th), a .379 on base percentage (9th), 14 sacrifice hits (10th), 12 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 19 outfield assists. In that season, he also had the distinction of being the first Canadian major leaguer to be named to the All-Star Game.
Three games into the 1946 season, Rosen was traded to the Dodgers' cross-town rivals, the New York Giants. It would be his last year in the major leagues. Before the end of the season, he was sent down to the Jersey City Giants
Jersey City Giants
The Jersey City Giants was the name of a high-level American minor league baseball franchise that played in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the top farm system affiliate of the New York Giants from 1937 through 1950. The Jersey City club played in the International League...
of the International League.
Rosen rejected an offer from Jersey City to return in 1947 and said he would only continue to play if he were sent to Toronto, where he had opened a restaurant. The deal was made, and Rosen played for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League in 1947. After a poor season, he was given an unconditional release, ending his professional baseball career.
Toronto softball, Ontario baseball
In 1948, Rosen switched to softball, playing for the Daltons in the Toronto Ki-Y (Kiwanis-YMCA) senior league and then joining the Levys in the BeachesThe Beaches
The Beaches is a neighbourhood and popular tourist destination located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the east side of the "Old" City of Toronto. The original boundaries of the neighbourhood are from Fallingbrook Avenue on the east to Kingston Road on the north, to Woodbine Avenue...
Fastball League, winning the league championship in 1949. Gooden started the 1950 season playing for the world champion Tip Top Tailors
Tip Top Tailors
Tip Top Tailors is a Canadian retail clothing chain, selling primarily menswear: suits, tuxedo rentals, casual wear, sportswear and outerwear; as well, each store has an in-house tailor...
team in the Beaches league but then returned to baseball as player-manager of the Galt Terriers of the Intercounty Baseball League
Intercounty Baseball League
The Intercounty Baseball League is a semi-professional baseball organization located in the Canadian province of Ontario. The league was formed in 1919....
. He was named manager of the Ontario all-star team that played the Maple Leafs in an exhibition game in August. Rosen returned to softball and the Beaches league in 1951, playing for Peoples Credit Jewellers, and then retired.
After he retired he owned and ran the Dunsway Restaurant in Toronto at Bloor
Bloor Street
Bloor Street is a major east–west residential and commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Bloor Street runs from the Prince Edward Viaduct westward into Mississauga, where it ends at Central Parkway. East of the viaduct, Danforth Avenue continues along the same...
and Dundas street
Dundas Street (Toronto)
Dundas Street, also known as Highway 5 west of Toronto, is a major arterial road connecting the centre of that city with its western suburbs and southwestern Ontario beyond...
. He was also a business executive and was still popular in baseball circles, as he was answering about 2,000 pieces of fan mail annually in his later years. He died in Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital on April 6, 1994, at age 81.
Achievements
Rosen was inducted in to the Canadian Baseball Hall of FameCanadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
in .
His .291 career batting average is eighth-best of all Jewish major leaguers (directly behind Ron Blomberg
Ron Blomberg
Ronald Mark Blomberg , nicknamed Boomer, is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder...
), through 2010. Rosen said that his "proudest accomplishment was being the only Jewish Canadian ever to play in the majors." He held that distinction for almost 70 years. It was not until that the Major Leagues saw another Jewish Canadian when London, Ontario-born Adam Stern
Adam Stern
Adam James Stern is a Canadian Major League Baseball outfielder who is presently a free agent.He bats left-handed, and throws right-handed. He was dubbed the "Canadian Babe Ruth" by Cleveland Indians outfielder Trot Nixon. Stern is the second Jewish player from Canada in major league history....
suited up for the 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"...
.