Greg Goossen
Encyclopedia
Gregory Bryant Goossen was an American
catcher
and first baseman
in Major League Baseball
, playing from 1965 through 1970 for four different clubs in the American and National leagues. Listed at 6' 1", 210 lb., he batted and threw right handed.
, Goossen was the fourth member of a family of eight brothers and two sisters. He was a standout football and basketball player at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, where he graduated in 1964.
Following his graduation, the Los Angeles Dodgers
signed Goossen for a six-figure bonus. He spent 1964 in the Minor leagues
playing first with the Dodgers rookie-level Pioneer League team, the Pocatello Chiefs
and then their single-A Florida State League
team, the St. Petersburg Saints
. After accepting a spring training invitation with the Dodgers, in which he shared a locker with future Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax
and Don Drysdale
who were on their way to winning the 1965 World Series
, on 9 April the woeful New York Mets
selected the 19-year-old Goossen through the first-year waiver process. Needing talented players, the Mets promoted the former bonus baby directly to the majors. Goossen would hit .290 in eleven games as part of a catching tandem that included Chris Cannizzaro
, Jesse Gonder
, John Stephenson
and Yogi Berra
before being assigned for the rest of the season to single-A Auburn
in the New York-Penn League.
On May 31, 1968, while playing for the Mets, Goossen broke up a possible perfect game
by St. Louis Cardinals
' pitcher Larry Jaster
after hitting a single
with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. In his time with the Mets, Goossen bounced between the majors (99 games in 4 years) and the minors (with all but 40 minor league games at AAA Jacksonville
) and on 5 February 1969, New York traded him along with cash to the Seattle Pilots
for a player to be named later (on 14 July the Pilots sent outfielder/first baseman Jim Gosger
to the Mets to close the deal). Although Goossen again missed out on the possibility of getting a World Series ring, this time with the Miracle Mets, he got to see his only extended amount of playing time in his career when he was called up to Seattle on 25 July platooning as the right-handed bat opposite lefty Don Mincher
at firstbase. Goossen would post career numbers in average (.309), home run
s (10), runs batted in (24), at bats (139), and games played (52), while catching and playing at first base and left field. Although in Seattle for only two months, Goossen would be there long enough to became one of the lasting characters in Jim Bouton
’s iconic diary, Ball Four
.
After starting the 1970 season as the now Milwaukee Brewers
' first baseman, Goossen's production would tail off badly from 1969 and he'd be sent to AAA Portland
after hitting only .255 with one homerun over the first 21 games. On 14 July, the Washington Senators
purchased Goossen from the Brewers and he would spend the rest of the season in Washington playing for Hall of Famer Ted Williams
, but would hit an empty .222 with no homers and 1 RBI and only 3 extra base hits in what would be his final taste of the major leagues. On 3 November 1970, Goossen was sent by Washington to the Philadelphia Phillies
left fielder Gene Martin
, and relief pitcher Jeff Terpko for a player to be named later and Curt Flood
, whose lawsuit for free agency was pending against Major League Baseball (on 10 April, the Phillies would send Terpko back to the Senators as the player to be named to complete the trade). Goosen would spend the 1971 season playing for the AAA teams of three organizations, the Phillies, Chicago Cubs
, and California Angels, before calling it a career following the end of the season at the age of 25.
at his father's firm, a job he had started during his baseball off-seasons. Later he helped his brother, Dan Goossen who owned Ten Goose Professional Boxing along with his brothers, as a boxing trainer. Notable boxers that he worked with included Rick Lindland, an amateur boxer-turned-actor and 1980s middleweight champion Michael Nunn
.
While at the gym in 1988, his brother Joe asked him to meet with actor Gene Hackman
, who was doing research for the film Split Decisions. Soon after the two became friends and the actor hired Goossen to work as his stand-in
. Hackman then had written into his contract that Goossen would serve as his stand-in for every film he did. He would eventually appear in 15 of Hackman’s movies between 1989 and 2003, including Unforgiven
, The Firm, Get Shorty
and Wyatt Earp
.
Goossen was a regular at his nephews baseball games at his former high school only about a long home run from his home. Goossen was scheduled to be inducted into the Notre Dame High School Hall of Fame on February 26, 2011, but when he did not arrive for a photo session, a family member went to his nearby home in Sherman Oaks and found him dead at the age of 65. The cause of death was not determined.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
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...
, playing from 1965 through 1970 for four different clubs in the American and National leagues. Listed at 6' 1", 210 lb., he batted and threw right handed.
Baseball career
Born in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Goossen was the fourth member of a family of eight brothers and two sisters. He was a standout football and basketball player at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, where he graduated in 1964.
Following his graduation, the Los Angeles 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...
signed Goossen for a six-figure bonus. He spent 1964 in the Minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
playing first with the Dodgers rookie-level Pioneer League team, the Pocatello Chiefs
Pocatello Chiefs
The Pocatello Chiefs were a minor league baseball team located in Pocatello, Idaho. The team began as the Pocatello Bannocks in 1952. They played in the Pioneer League originally as an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns and then the Kansas City Athletics in 1956...
and then their single-A Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
team, the St. Petersburg Saints
St. Petersburg Saints
The St. Petersburg Saints were a minor league baseball team that operated out of St.Petersburg, Florida. The team began as a semi-pro team and as early as October 1908, the semi-pro Saints played the Cincinnati Reds in a post-season exhibition game. By 1914, the Saints were receiving regular...
. After accepting a spring training invitation with the Dodgers, in which he shared a locker with future Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
and Don Drysdale
Don Drysdale
Donald Scott "Don" Drysdale was a Major League Baseball player and Hall of Fame right-handed pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was one of the dominant starting pitchers of the 1960s, and became a radio and television broadcaster following his playing career...
who were on their way to winning the 1965 World Series
1965 World Series
The 1965 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers against the American League champion Minnesota Twins, who had won their first pennant since 1933 when the team was known as the Washington Senators...
, on 9 April the woeful New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
selected the 19-year-old Goossen through the first-year waiver process. Needing talented players, the Mets promoted the former bonus baby directly to the majors. Goossen would hit .290 in eleven games as part of a catching tandem that included Chris Cannizzaro
Chris Cannizzaro
Christopher John "Chris" Cannizzaro was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Mets , Pittsburgh Pirates , San Diego Padres , Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, Jesse Gonder
Jesse Gonder
Jesse Lemar Gonder , was a professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from -. He played for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Braves, and Pittsburgh Pirates....
, John Stephenson
John Stephenson (baseball)
John Herman Stephenson is a retired American professional baseball player who was a catcher in the Major Leagues from 1964-1973. He played for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and California Angels. In 1964, he was the last out of Jim Bunning's perfect game...
and Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
before being assigned for the rest of the season to single-A Auburn
Auburn Mets
* Location: Auburn, NY* League: New York-Penn League 1962-1966* Affiliation: New York Mets 1962-1966* Ballpark: Falcon Park...
in the New York-Penn League.
On May 31, 1968, while playing for the Mets, Goossen broke up a possible perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
by 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...
' pitcher Larry Jaster
Larry Jaster
Larry Edward Jaster is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos and Atlanta Braves between 1965 and 1972 with the exception of 1971....
after hitting a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. In his time with the Mets, Goossen bounced between the majors (99 games in 4 years) and the minors (with all but 40 minor league games at AAA Jacksonville
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
) and on 5 February 1969, New York traded him along with cash to the Seattle Pilots
Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...
for a player to be named later (on 14 July the Pilots sent outfielder/first baseman Jim Gosger
Jim Gosger
James Charles Gosger is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played from 1963-1974 for six different teams. Gosger was listed at and and batted and threw left-handed...
to the Mets to close the deal). Although Goossen again missed out on the possibility of getting a World Series ring, this time with the Miracle Mets, he got to see his only extended amount of playing time in his career when he was called up to Seattle on 25 July platooning as the right-handed bat opposite lefty Don Mincher
Don Mincher
-External links:***...
at firstbase. Goossen would post career numbers in average (.309), 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 (10), runs batted in (24), at bats (139), and games played (52), while catching and playing at first base and left field. Although in Seattle for only two months, Goossen would be there long enough to became one of the lasting characters in 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...
’s iconic diary, Ball Four
Ball Four
Ball Four is a book written by former Major League Baseball pitcher Jim Bouton in . The book is a diary of Bouton's 1969 season, spent with the Seattle Pilots and then the Houston Astros following a late-season trade. In it Bouton also recounts much of his baseball career, spent mainly with the...
.
After starting the 1970 season as the now Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
' first baseman, Goossen's production would tail off badly from 1969 and he'd be sent to AAA Portland
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
after hitting only .255 with one homerun over the first 21 games. On 14 July, the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
purchased Goossen from the Brewers and he would spend the rest of the season in Washington playing for Hall of Famer Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
, but would hit an empty .222 with no homers and 1 RBI and only 3 extra base hits in what would be his final taste of the major leagues. On 3 November 1970, Goossen was sent by Washington to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
left fielder Gene Martin
Gene Martin
Thomas Eugene Martin is a former Major League Baseball left fielder. He was drafted by the Washington Senators in the 3rd round of the 1965 Major League Baseball Draft, and he played in nine games for them in ....
, and relief pitcher Jeff Terpko for a player to be named later and Curt Flood
Curt Flood
Curtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
, whose lawsuit for free agency was pending against Major League Baseball (on 10 April, the Phillies would send Terpko back to the Senators as the player to be named to complete the trade). Goosen would spend the 1971 season playing for the AAA teams of three organizations, the Phillies, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, and California Angels, before calling it a career following the end of the season at the age of 25.
Retirement
After his baseball retirement, Goossen worked as a private investigatorPrivate investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
at his father's firm, a job he had started during his baseball off-seasons. Later he helped his brother, Dan Goossen who owned Ten Goose Professional Boxing along with his brothers, as a boxing trainer. Notable boxers that he worked with included Rick Lindland, an amateur boxer-turned-actor and 1980s middleweight champion Michael Nunn
Michael Nunn
Michael Nunn is a former American boxer. Nicknamed "Second to Nunn," he was a 6' 2" southpaw with great speed. Nunn was the IBF middleweight champion and the WBA super middleweight champion...
.
While at the gym in 1988, his brother Joe asked him to meet with actor Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman
Eugene Allen "Gene" Hackman is an American actor and novelist.Nominated for five Academy Awards, winning two, Hackman has also won three Golden Globes and two BAFTAs in a career that spanned five decades. He first came to fame in 1967 with his performance as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde...
, who was doing research for the film Split Decisions. Soon after the two became friends and the actor hired Goossen to work as his stand-in
Stand-in
A stand-in for film and television is a person who substitutes for the actor before filming, for technical purposes such as lighting.Stand-ins are helpful in the initial processes of production. Lighting setup can be a slow and tedious process; during this time the actor will often be somewhere else...
. Hackman then had written into his contract that Goossen would serve as his stand-in for every film he did. He would eventually appear in 15 of Hackman’s movies between 1989 and 2003, including Unforgiven
Unforgiven
Unforgiven is a 1992 American Western film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood with a screenplay written by David Webb Peoples. The film tells the story of William Munny, an aging outlaw and killer who takes on one more job years after he had hung up his guns and turned to farming...
, The Firm, Get Shorty
Get Shorty (film)
Get Shorty is a 1995 crime-comedy film based on Elmore Leonard's novel of the same name. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and starring John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, and Danny DeVito, the plot remained true to the book except for a few minor details....
and Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp (film)
Wyatt Earp is a 1994 American semi-biographical Western film, written by Dan Gordon and Lawrence Kasdan and directed by Kasdan. It stars Kevin Costner in the title role as lawman Wyatt Earp, and features an ensemble cast that includes Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman, Isabella Rossellini, Mark Harmon,...
.
Goossen was a regular at his nephews baseball games at his former high school only about a long home run from his home. Goossen was scheduled to be inducted into the Notre Dame High School Hall of Fame on February 26, 2011, but when he did not arrive for a photo session, a family member went to his nearby home in Sherman Oaks and found him dead at the age of 65. The cause of death was not determined.