Vern Hoscheit
Encyclopedia
Vernard Arthur Hoscheit was an American
professional baseball
catcher
, coach
and manager
. He served as a coach on four World Series
championship Major League Baseball
teams with the Oakland Athletics
and the New York Mets
. Hoscheit was the Mets' bullpen coach from 1984–1987, which included their World Series run in 1986
. During that season's spring training
, Hoscheit accurately predicted that the team would clinch the National League East Division title on September 17, long before any regular season game was even played.
, Hoscheit originally signed with the New York Yankees
and was catcher in their farm system for 12 seasons starting in 1941. He missed the 1943-1945 seasons because of World War II
military service, but returned to hit .245 for the Binghamton Triplets
in the Class A Eastern League, where his manager was Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher
Lefty Gomez
. He also caught 25 games in 1947 for Binghamton while hitting .271. He hung on in the minor leagues
until 1955, his best season being 1951, when he hit .354 with 11 home runs and 109 RBIs for the McAlester Rockets of Class D Sooner State League
.
for the Quincy (1955–1956), Peoria (1957), and Greensboro (1958–1959) clubs, and then became president
of the Three-I League in 1960.
After the Three-I League disbanded following the 1961 season, Hoscheit joined the Baltimore Orioles
and was a scout
and minor league instructor (1962–1967) and Major League coach (1968). He switched to Oakland and was a coach from 1969–1974, earning World Series
rings in his final three seasons.
He coached for the California Angels
(1976) and was the Mets' Gulf Coast League
manager in 1983. With the parent team, he served as bullpen coach when New York won the World Series in 1986
. He became a minor league
catching instructor for the Mets in 1988.
teams in Plainview, NE for many years. On June 11, 2007, it was reported by Jay Horwitz, Mets vice president
for media relations
, that Hoscheit died at the Pierce Manor nursing home
, Pierce, Nebraska
, following a long illness.
He had one son; Billy Ray Hoscheit, two daughters; Sherri Ann (Huigens), and Cathy Jean (Brodhaugen).... And a horse named Pepsi.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
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....
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...
, coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
. He served as a coach on four 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...
championship 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...
teams with the Oakland 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....
and 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...
. Hoscheit was the Mets' bullpen coach from 1984–1987, which included their World Series run in 1986
1986 New York Mets season
The 1986 New York Mets season was the Mets' 25th season in the National League. They began the season looking to equal or improve upon their 98–64 record from 1985 and to try to win the National League East Division. They finished the season with a 108–54 record, cruising to the division title...
. During that season's 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...
, Hoscheit accurately predicted that the team would clinch the National League East Division title on September 17, long before any regular season game was even played.
Playing career
Born in Brunswick, NebraskaBrunswick, Nebraska
Brunswick is a village in Antelope County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 179 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Brunswick is located at ....
, Hoscheit originally signed with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and was catcher in their farm system for 12 seasons starting in 1941. He missed the 1943-1945 seasons because of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
military service, but returned to hit .245 for the Binghamton Triplets
Binghamton Triplets
The Binghamton Triplets were a minor league baseball team in Binghamton, New York, affiliated with the New York Yankees ; the team also had brief affiliations with the Kansas City Athletics and the Milwaukee Braves...
in the Class A Eastern League, where his manager was Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Lefty Gomez
Lefty Gómez
Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez was an American left-handed major league pitcher who played in the American League for the New York Yankees between 1930 and 1942. Considered one of the great pitchers of the day, Gomez was a seven-time All-Star and a five-time World Series Champion with the Yankees...
. He also caught 25 games in 1947 for Binghamton while hitting .271. He hung on 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...
until 1955, his best season being 1951, when he hit .354 with 11 home runs and 109 RBIs for the McAlester Rockets of Class D Sooner State League
Sooner State League
The Sooner State League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1947 through 1957. The league owners kept it alive in 1958, anticipating a return to play in 1959. However, when only Ardmore and Paris, Texas, were able to secure working agreements, the League folded on February 12,...
.
Post-Playing Career
Upon the end of his playing career, Hoscheit became a general managerGeneral manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
for the Quincy (1955–1956), Peoria (1957), and Greensboro (1958–1959) clubs, and then became president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Three-I League in 1960.
After the Three-I League disbanded following the 1961 season, Hoscheit joined the Baltimore Orioles
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...
and was a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
and minor league instructor (1962–1967) and Major League coach (1968). He switched to Oakland and was a coach from 1969–1974, earning 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...
rings in his final three seasons.
He coached for the California 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...
(1976) and was the Mets' Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
manager in 1983. With the parent team, he served as bullpen coach when New York won the World Series in 1986
1986 World Series
The 1986 World Series pitted the New York Mets against the Boston Red Sox. It was cited in the legend of the "Curse of the Bambino" to explain the error by Bill Buckner in Game 6 that allowed the Mets to extend the series to a seventh game...
. He became a minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
catching instructor for the Mets in 1988.
Retirement
In retirement, Hoscheit returned to his native Nebraska, where he coached American LegionAmerican Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
teams in Plainview, NE for many years. On June 11, 2007, it was reported by Jay Horwitz, Mets vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
for media relations
Media relations
Media relations involves working with various media for the purpose of informing the public of an organization's mission, policies and practices in a positive, consistent and credible manner. Typically, this means coordinating directly with the people responsible for producing the news and features...
, that Hoscheit died at the Pierce Manor nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
, Pierce, Nebraska
Pierce, Nebraska
Pierce is a city in Pierce County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Norfolk, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,767 at the 2010 census...
, following a long illness.
He had one son; Billy Ray Hoscheit, two daughters; Sherri Ann (Huigens), and Cathy Jean (Brodhaugen).... And a horse named Pepsi.