Champ Osteen
Born: 2/24/1877 in Hendersonville, NC, USA
Died: 12/14/1962 in Greenville, SC, USA
MLB Debut: 1903-09-18 | Final Game: 1909-05-03
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 150 lbs
Full name: James Champlin Osteen
Biography
Champ Osteen was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1903 to 1909. Born in 1877, Osteen played primarily as a position player during a time when baseball was experiencing significant growth and evolving into a more popular national pastime. Throughout his career, he appeared in 83 games, recording 60 hits and driving in 31 runs, showcasing his contributions to the teams he played for. Osteen's power at the plate was modest, as he finished his career with 2 home runs and a batting average of .197, which reflected the offensive challenges many players faced during this early era of baseball.
Osteen's playing style was characterized by his determination and adaptability, traits that were essential for any player during the formative years of the sport. While he may not have been among the most celebrated figures of his time, his presence on the field added depth to the rosters of the teams he represented. Osteen's career, which spanned the transition from the deadball era to the more offensive-friendly environment that followed, remains a part of baseball history, illustrating the journey of the game as it evolved through the early 20th century.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 83 | 304 | 27 | 60 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 31 | 1 | 10 | 31 | 0.197 | 0.233 | 0.276 | 0.509 | -763.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | WSN | AL | 10 | 40 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1904 | NYY | AL | 28 | 107 | 15 | 21 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0.196 | -227.4 |
| 1908 | STL | NL | 29 | 112 | 2 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0.196 | -470.5 |
| 1909 | STL | NL | 16 | 45 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0.200 | -65.2 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 4 | 4 | 39 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3B | 29 | 28 | 30 | 58 | 5 | 1 |
| SS | 51 | 39 | 86 | 132 | 27 | 11 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | WS1 | SS | 10 | 0 | 28 | 32 | 4 | 4 |
| 1904 | NYA | 1B | 4 | 4 | 39 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1904 | NYA | 3B | 17 | 17 | 16 | 37 | 4 | 1 |
| 1904 | NYA | SS | 8 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 2 | 1 |
| 1908 | SLN | 3B | 12 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| 1908 | SLN | SS | 17 | 17 | 30 | 42 | 13 | 6 |
| 1909 | SLN | SS | 16 | 16 | 17 | 41 | 8 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 4 |
| Third Base | 30 |
| Shortstop | 52 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erskine College | Due West | SC | 1900 |