"19 years old and in 10 years, he's got a chance to be 29." Stengel On Greg Goossen
On February 26th Greg Goossen was found dead in his home in Sherman Oaks California; he was 65. His cause of death is not yet known.
Goossen had an extraordinary life; he was a Major League Catcher for the Mets, Pilots, Brewers and Senators from 1965-1970, and then worked in a Private Investigation Agency, trained boxers, and worked as a Hollywood double.
He was signed by the Dodgers as an 18 year old for a "six figure bonus" - according to the Daily News. The Mets claimed Goossen from the Dodgers in the 1965 waiver draft.
Goossen's Mets career wasn't glamorous. He played in only 99 games for the Mets, compiling a .202 Avg, 2 HR, and 16 RBI.
After baseball, Goossen had an interesting life; he worked in a private investigation agency that was run by his father, as well as helping boxers train in a gym. It was in this capacity that Goossen met actor Gene Hackman who was filming the 1988 boxing movie Split Decisions, and together, they forged a strong friendship.
Goossen would often be Hackman's body double, and Hackman would insist that Goosen get a small part in films that he was in.
Goossen appeared in 18 movies with Hackman, most notably the movies: "Get Shorty," "Waterworld," "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "Mr. Baseball."
Goosen was also depicted in Jim Bouton's classic: Ball Four. Bouton said of Goossen
As long time friend Pete Rose said:
Goossen's baseball life was small in comparison to his life after baseball. As his friend Bouton believes:
Goossen had an extraordinary life; he was a Major League Catcher for the Mets, Pilots, Brewers and Senators from 1965-1970, and then worked in a Private Investigation Agency, trained boxers, and worked as a Hollywood double.
He was signed by the Dodgers as an 18 year old for a "six figure bonus" - according to the Daily News. The Mets claimed Goossen from the Dodgers in the 1965 waiver draft.
Goossen's Mets career wasn't glamorous. He played in only 99 games for the Mets, compiling a .202 Avg, 2 HR, and 16 RBI.
After baseball, Goossen had an interesting life; he worked in a private investigation agency that was run by his father, as well as helping boxers train in a gym. It was in this capacity that Goossen met actor Gene Hackman who was filming the 1988 boxing movie Split Decisions, and together, they forged a strong friendship.
Goossen would often be Hackman's body double, and Hackman would insist that Goosen get a small part in films that he was in.
Goossen appeared in 18 movies with Hackman, most notably the movies: "Get Shorty," "Waterworld," "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "Mr. Baseball."
Goosen was also depicted in Jim Bouton's classic: Ball Four. Bouton said of Goossen
| "You couldn't put him down, because he would just get a big kick out of it." |
As long time friend Pete Rose said:
| "It's a shame the Good Lord couldn't give him one more day so he could enjoy that hall of fame day. He was really looking forward to that." |
Goossen's baseball life was small in comparison to his life after baseball. As his friend Bouton believes:
| "I think the more interesting stuff happened to him after baseball. A lot of people would trade lives with him." |
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