Howie Goss
Encyclopedia
Howard Wayne Goss was an American
professional
baseball player who appeared in two seasons (–) in the Major Leagues
as an outfielder
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
and Houston Colt .45s (later the Houston Astros
).
Born in Wewoka, Oklahoma
, Goss threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 in 4 in (1.93 m) tall and weighed 204 pounds (92.5 kg). He spent nine years in minor league baseball
, hitting 172 home runs, before making his first Major League team, the 1962 Pirates
. Goss was mostly a late-inning replacement for regular leftfielder Bob Skinner
, a left-handed
batter, that season, although he did start 15 games in right field, normally the domain of Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente
. He showed some power potential with a .351 slugging average playing in cavernous Forbes Field
.
In the closing days of spring training
in 1963, Goss was traded to the Colt .45s for a then-unknown 25-year-old outfielder, Manny Mota
. While Goss would be Houston's regular 1963
centerfielder, he batted
only .209 in 411 at bats and finished his professional career in the minor leagues in 1964. Mota went on to play 19 more seasons in the National League
, and became particularly well known for his pinch hitting
, at one time holding the Major League record for pinch hits.
Howie Goss appeared in 222 Major League games, with 522 at bats. His 113 hits
including 24 doubles
and 11 home runs. He died at age 61 in Reno, Nevada
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball player who appeared in two seasons (–) in the Major Leagues
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...
as an 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...
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and Houston Colt .45s (later the 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...
).
Born in Wewoka, Oklahoma
Wewoka, Oklahoma
Wewoka is a city in Seminole County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,562 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Seminole County.Wewoka is the capital of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.-Geography:Wewoka is located at ....
, Goss threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 in 4 in (1.93 m) tall and weighed 204 pounds (92.5 kg). He spent nine years in minor league baseball
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...
, hitting 172 home runs, before making his first Major League team, the 1962 Pirates
1962 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* October 10, 1961: 1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft**Joe Christopher was drafted from the Pirates by the New York Mets.**Al Jackson was drafted from the Pirates by the New York Mets....
. Goss was mostly a late-inning replacement for regular leftfielder Bob Skinner
Bob Skinner
Robert Ralph Skinner is a scout for the Houston Astros and a former outfielder-first baseman, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball...
, a left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
batter, that season, although he did start 15 games in right field, normally the domain of Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. Clemente played his entire 18-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He was awarded the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in...
. He showed some power potential with a .351 slugging average playing in cavernous Forbes Field
Forbes Field
Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1971. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League franchise...
.
In the closing days of 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 1963, Goss was traded to the Colt .45s for a then-unknown 25-year-old outfielder, Manny Mota
Manny Mota
Manuel Rafael Mota Geronimo, more commonly known as Manny Mota was a Major League Baseball Outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos and most notably the Los Angeles Dodgers, best known for his pinch hitting abilities...
. While Goss would be Houston's regular 1963
1963 Houston Colt .45s season
The Houston Colt .45s' 1963 season was a season in American baseball. The team finished ninth in the National League with a record of 66-96, 33 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.- Offseason :...
centerfielder, he batted
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 :...
only .209 in 411 at bats and finished his professional career in the minor leagues in 1964. Mota went on to play 19 more seasons 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...
, and became particularly well known for his pinch hitting
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
, at one time holding the Major League record for pinch hits.
Howie Goss appeared in 222 Major League games, with 522 at bats. His 113 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....
including 24 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 11 home runs. He died at age 61 in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
.