Greg Goossen, 65; Was MLB Utility Player (NY Mets, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Senators
Bill Schenley
1967 Topps (#287) baseball card:
http://tinyurl.com/46qlram
Photo:
http://tinyurl.com/4abp3n8
FROM: The Los Angeles Times ~
By Eric Sondheimer
Greg Goossen, a former six-figure bonus baby of the Dodgers who played for
Casey Stengel and the New York Mets, dabbled as a boxing trainer with his
brother and was a stand-in for actor Gene Hackman in more than a dozen
films, was found dead Saturday at his home in Sherman Oaks. He was 65.
Goossen was scheduled to be inducted into the Notre Dame High School Hall of
Fame on Saturday night. When he did not arrive for a photo session, a family
member went to his nearby home and found him. A cause of death has yet to be
determined.
Born on Dec. 14, 1945, in Los Angeles, 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, where he graduated in 1964. He was a
catcher in baseball, and the Dodgers drafted him and signed him for a
six-figure bonus.
The Mets picked him up the following year on a waiver from the Dodgers.
Stengel, the legendary manager of the Mets, said, "This is Greg Goossen.
He's 19 years old, and in 10 years he's got a chance to be 29."
He played for the Mets, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers and Washington
Senators before his baseball career ended in 1970.
He worked as a private detective and later helped his brother, Joe, as a
boxing trainer, working withMichael Nunn and the Ruelas brothers, Gabriel
and Rafael. Another brother, Dan, was the promoter.
Through boxing, he met Gene Hackman, became good friends and served as a
stand-in while also getting bit parts in movies.
He was preparing to be honored by his alma mater Saturday night.
"He said, 'It's the highlight of my life being inducted into the Notre Dame
Hall of Fame,' " said Jeff Kraemer, one of the organizers of the event.
Goossen is survived by his three daughters, Erin Hyder, Tracey Woodside and
Kimberly Goossen.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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1982 Renato Galasso (#33) baseball card:
http://tinyurl.com/5u7kyg5
MLB stats:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/goossgr01.shtml