History

Leon "Goose" Goslin

baseball player, Washington Senators · 1900–1971

Left fielder for the Washington Senators and the best hitter in the major leagues in the summer of 1928, sent to Ocean City, Maryland in the first week of July by club president Clark Griffith to see whether salt-water bathing would restore a throwing arm that had been useless since March. The Evening Star's baseball writer reported the prescription and openly doubted it: 'Just why salt water bathing should be expected to restore the snap to the Goose's arm is not known.' Goslin was batting .409 when he went and finished the season as American League batting champion at .379. He is the most celebrated person the registry can place at Ocean City in 1928, and he was sent there as a cure.

In the record (1)

  1. 1928 · 1928-07-07

    The Washington Senators send Goose Goslin — batting .409, the best hitter in the big leagues — to Ocean City to see whether salt water will fix his throwing arm.

    Evening Star, 7 July 1928: "Goose Goslin, premier hitter of the big leagues with a batting mark of .409, but with a throwing arm of no value due to a mysterious ailment, has been benched and Sammy West, a capable fielder and as yet an uncertain batter, sent to right field. Goslin has been sent to Ocean City, Md., by the club for a week or two of rest with the hope that salt water bathing and a relief from base ball may prove beneficial to the wing that has been all but useless in so far as throwing a ball is concerned since late in March. Just why salt water bathing should be expected to restore the snap to the Goose's arm is not known. Perhaps it's only a 'hunch' that caused President Clark Griffith to send the Jerseyite to [the beach]."

    Goslin went on to win the American League batting title that season at .379 and to reach the Hall of Fame. The Evening Star's reporter thought the prescription was superstition and said so in print. Either way it is the most famous person the registry can place at Ocean City in 1928, and he was sent there as medicine.

    Source · checked 2026-08-06