Joe Nossek
Encyclopedia
Joseph Rudolph Nossek is an American
former Major League Baseball
outfielder
, coach
and scout. He threw and batted right-handed, and stood 6' (183 cm) tall and weighed 178 pounds (81 kg) as an active player.
and was signed by the Minnesota Twins
as an amateur free agent in 1961
. He made his major league debut for the club on April 18, 1964 against the Washington Senators
.
A modest eater, Nossek was known as "coffee and juice" to his Minnesota teammates. He served as a back-up outfielder on the pennant-winning Twins team of 1965
, hitting .218 in 87 games. He also played some games at third base for the squad. Despite his modest abilities, he started in center field for most of the games of the 1965 World Series
over All-Star Jimmie Hall
. The Twins lost to Sandy Koufax
and the Los Angeles Dodgers
in seven games.
During the 1966
season, Nossek's contract was purchased by the Kansas City Athletics
and played in 174 games for them over the next two years. In the middle of the 1969
campaign, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
for Bob Johnson
. He only played in 10 games for St. Louis, however, and retired after the 1970
season. Overall, Nossek batted
.228 with three home runs and 53 runs batted in in 295 games during his six-year major league playing career.
Nossek, noted as a skilled "stealer" of opposing teams' signs from the bench or coaching lines, was a longtime (28-year) coach in major league baseball after his active career ended, serving with the Milwaukee Brewers
(1973–75), Twins (1976), Cleveland Indians
(1977–81), Kansas City Royals
(1982–83) and Chicago White Sox
(1984–86; 1990–2003). He then became a scout for the Houston Astros
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, 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 scout. He threw and batted right-handed, and stood 6' (183 cm) tall and weighed 178 pounds (81 kg) as an active player.
Playing and coaching career
Nossek attended Ohio UniversityOhio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
and was signed by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
as an amateur free agent in 1961
1961 Major League Baseball season
The New York Yankees defeated the Cincinnati Reds in five games in the World Series. The season is most well known for Yankee teammates Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle's pursuit of Babe Ruth's prestigious 34-year-old single-season home run record of 60...
. He made his major league debut for the club on April 18, 1964 against the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.
A modest eater, Nossek was known as "coffee and juice" to his Minnesota teammates. He served as a back-up outfielder on the pennant-winning Twins team of 1965
1965 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins won the 1965 American League pennant with a 102-60 record. It was the team's first pennant since moving to Minnesota, and the 102 wins was a team record.- Regular season :...
, hitting .218 in 87 games. He also played some games at third base for the squad. Despite his modest abilities, he started in center field for most of the games of the 1965 World Series
1965 World Series
The 1965 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers against the American League champion Minnesota Twins, who had won their first pennant since 1933 when the team was known as the Washington Senators...
over All-Star Jimmie Hall
Jimmie Hall
Jimmie Randolph Hall is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and left-handed batter who played for the Minnesota Twins , California Angels , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves .-Minor league career:After attending Belmont High School and playing...
. The Twins lost to Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
and the Los Angeles Dodgers
1965 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished the regular-season with a 97–65 record, which earned them the NL pennant by just two games over their arch-rivals, the San Francisco Giants...
in seven games.
During the 1966
1966 Major League Baseball season
The 1966 Major League Baseball season was held between the American and National Leagues. The Braves play their first season in Atlanta, following their relocation from Milwaukee. Three new stadiums opened that season. On April 12, the Braves ushered in Atlanta Stadium with the Pittsburgh...
season, Nossek's contract was purchased by the Kansas City 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 played in 174 games for them over the next two years. In the middle of the 1969
1969 Major League Baseball season
The 1969 Major League Baseball season was celebrated as the 100th anniversary of professional baseball, honoring the first professional touring baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings. A special silhouetted batter logo was created by Jerry Dior to commemorate the anniversary, and is still used...
campaign, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for Bob Johnson
Bob Johnson (infielder)
Robert Wallace Johnson , nicknamed "Rocky," is a retired American professional baseball player. Largely a utility infielder and pinch hitter, Johnson appeared in 11 Major League Baseball seasons, from until . Johnson was a member of the 1966 World Series champion Baltimore Orioles...
. He only played in 10 games for St. Louis, however, and retired after the 1970
1970 Major League Baseball season
The Seattle Pilots relocated to Milwaukee and became the Brewers, thus returning Major League Baseball to Wisconsin for the first time since the relocation of the Milwaukee Braves to Atlanta following the 1965 season.-Champions:...
season. Overall, Nossek batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.228 with three home runs and 53 runs batted in in 295 games during his six-year major league playing career.
Nossek, noted as a skilled "stealer" of opposing teams' signs from the bench or coaching lines, was a longtime (28-year) coach in major league baseball after his active career ended, serving with the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1973–75), Twins (1976), Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1977–81), Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
(1982–83) and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1984–86; 1990–2003). He then became a scout for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.