Brian Ostrosser
Encyclopedia
Brian Leonard Ostrosser was a Major League Baseball
shortstop
who played for the New York Mets
in 1973. He played 4 games for the that season when injuries to several players left the team short of infielder
s.
He had a 1.000 fielding percentage
fielding 5 chances without an error
. Although the Mets won the National League
pennant
in 1973 he was not on the postseason roster. He is one of the few Canadians to have played for the Mets.
In 1974 he was traded to the Cleveland Indians
for Dwain Anderson
, but never played a Major League game for the Indians.
and the Class A Pompano Beach Mets
that year. He spent the 1971 season with Pompano Beach, and was promoted to the Class AA Memphis Blues of the Texas League
in 1972. As Memphis' starting shortstop Ostrosser had a .262 batting average
in 470 at bats. He only had 21 extra base hits for a .323 slugging percentage but his 71 walks produced a solid .370 on-base percentage. He led Texas League shortstops in fielding in 1972, and developed a reputation as an outstanding defensive shortstop.
He played for Class AAA Tidewater Tides briefly in 1972 and most of 1973. With Tidewater in 1973 Ostrosser had a batting average of .230 in 283 at bats. His slugging percentage was just .297 but again a large number of walks (47 in this case) produced a solid on-base percentage of .354.
It was during the 1973 that Ostrosser was briefly called up to the New York Mets to replace injured Met shortstop Bud Harrelson
. He made his major league debut against the St. Louis Cardinals
on August 5, 1973, going 0 for 2, striking out twice. He also played two games against the San Francisco Giants
before his final Major League game on August 13, 1973 against the San Diego Padres
. He did not get a hit in any of the 5 at bats he received during his 4 game stint with the Mets.
In 1974 Ostrosser played again for Tidewater but had a batting average of just .192 in 172 at bats with no home runs. Even another impressive walk total of 32 relative to his at bats brought his on-base percentage only up to .332. After being traded to the Cleveland Indians
on June 21, 1974, Ostrosser played for the Oklahoma City 89ers. There he played 59 games at third base and only 11 games at shortstop, since the 89ers used future Major Leaguer Tom McMillan as their regular shortstop. He batted .261 for the 89ers in 1974 with a slugging percentage of .279 and an on base percentage of .332. In 1975, still with the 89ers, played just 63 games, mostly at third base, where he batted just .202 with a slugging percentage of .230 and an on-base percentage of .344, ending his career.
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...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who played for the 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...
in 1973. He played 4 games for the that season when injuries to several players left the team short of infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
s.
He had a 1.000 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...
fielding 5 chances without an error
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 ...
. Although the Mets won 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...
pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
in 1973 he was not on the postseason roster. He is one of the few Canadians to have played for the Mets.
In 1974 he was traded to 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...
for Dwain Anderson
Dwain Anderson
Dwain Cleaven Anderson was an American baseball player. He was born in Oakland, California. A shortstop, he played 149 games in Major League baseball from 1971 to 1974 for the Oakland Athletics , St...
, but never played a Major League game for the Indians.
Professional career
After signing with the Mets in 1970, Ostrosser played with both the Rookie League Marion MetsMarion Mets
The Marion Mets were a minor league baseball team based in Marion, Virginia that played in the Appalachian League from 1965 to 1976. They were affiliated with the New York Mets and played their home games at the Marion High School baseball field....
and the Class A Pompano Beach Mets
Pompano Beach Mets
*Location: Pompano Beach, FL*League: Florida State League *Affiliation: New York Mets *Ballpark:-Year-by-year record:...
that year. He spent the 1971 season with Pompano Beach, and was promoted to the Class AA Memphis Blues of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
in 1972. As Memphis' starting shortstop Ostrosser had a .262 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 :...
in 470 at bats. He only had 21 extra base hits for a .323 slugging percentage but his 71 walks produced a solid .370 on-base percentage. He led Texas League shortstops in fielding in 1972, and developed a reputation as an outstanding defensive shortstop.
He played for Class AAA Tidewater Tides briefly in 1972 and most of 1973. With Tidewater in 1973 Ostrosser had a batting average of .230 in 283 at bats. His slugging percentage was just .297 but again a large number of walks (47 in this case) produced a solid on-base percentage of .354.
It was during the 1973 that Ostrosser was briefly called up to the New York Mets to replace injured Met shortstop Bud Harrelson
Bud Harrelson
Derrel McKinley "Bud" Harrelson is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played for the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers from to . After retiring, he served as a coach for the World Champion Mets, and as manager of the Mets in 1990 and 1991...
. He made his major league debut 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...
on August 5, 1973, going 0 for 2, striking out twice. He also played two games against the San Francisco 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....
before his final Major League game on August 13, 1973 against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. He did not get a hit in any of the 5 at bats he received during his 4 game stint with the Mets.
In 1974 Ostrosser played again for Tidewater but had a batting average of just .192 in 172 at bats with no home runs. Even another impressive walk total of 32 relative to his at bats brought his on-base percentage only up to .332. After being traded to 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...
on June 21, 1974, Ostrosser played for the Oklahoma City 89ers. There he played 59 games at third base and only 11 games at shortstop, since the 89ers used future Major Leaguer Tom McMillan as their regular shortstop. He batted .261 for the 89ers in 1974 with a slugging percentage of .279 and an on base percentage of .332. In 1975, still with the 89ers, played just 63 games, mostly at third base, where he batted just .202 with a slugging percentage of .230 and an on-base percentage of .344, ending his career.