By Michael Marley
There's nothing humorous about penning an obit on somebody but, in case of Greg Goossen, I will make an exception.
Goossen, 65, who was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Sunday, wasn't the teary, bleary type.
He was the Giant Leprechaun sort of man who, I think, would prefer a celebration of his life and times rather than some maudlin memories.
The former major league catcher proudly wore "the tools of ignorance" and might get a kick out of knowing the mention of his name caused bright smiles and outright laughter.
Goossen, who numbered fight promoter Dan and well known trainer Joe among his nine siblings, was the least egotistical major leaguer I've ever met and I've met more than a few.
When Goossen told anecdotes about his less than Hall Of Fame career with the Original 1962 Mets, the lowly Seattle Pilots and others, the punchline was usually about his hitting or catching ability.
Once, I asked him in a bar at the MGM Grand in Las vegas before a fight, what is was like being managed by baseball immortal Ted "Teddy Ballgame" Williams with the thinly talented Washington Senators.
I asked Goossen how he got along with the prickly pear who was a Boston Red Sox superstar.
"We got along great," Goossen said. "Near the end of the season, I was the second or third string catcher on the club. I walked into his office and he has feet up as he read the paper. I said, "Ted, there's only a few weeks left in the season.
"Now, I've got to make plans. I've got to look ahead, so what's the deal..."
Let me interject here that Williams hated a player calling him by his first name. And Goossen knew it.
"Ted, he doesn't even look up from the paper," Goossen told me. "He said, "Kid, if I was you, I wouldn't send my laundry out."
Shortly thereafter, Goossen was traded to the Phillies in a deal involving Curt Flood, whose lawsuit brought free agency to the sport.
The other, more well know Goossen "classic" was when baseball writers inquired about the baby-faced catcher the Mets had, only 19 years old.
Stengel wasn't much for remembering names.
"The kid is 19," Stengel said. "In 10 years, the kid has a good chance to be 29."
My condolences to the entire Goossen clan.
After baseball, Goossen made a lucrative career as stand-in in Hollywood and worked often with superb actor Gene Hackman. The pair also became fast friends.
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 High School.
He worked as a private detective and later helped his brother, Joe, as a boxing trainer, working with Michael Nunn and the Ruelas brothers, Gabriel and Rafael. Another brother, Dan, was the promoter.
