Ossee Schreckengost

Ossee Freeman Schreckengost (; July 25, 1875 – July 9, 1914), born F. Osee Schrecongost, baptism Osie Freeman Schreckengost , was an American professional baseball catcher and first baseman. He played for seven Major League Baseball (MLB) teams between 1897 and 1908. Between 1902 and 1908, he caught for the Philadelphia Athletics, where he was the roommate and battery mate for pitcher Rube Waddell. Schreckengost's first name is sometimes spelled "Ossie" and his last name is sometimes shortened to "Schreck" to suit the limited space in baseball box scores.

Early life Schreckengost was born in New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to Naaman Schrecongost and the former Sarah Caroline Protzman. He was of German descent through his father. The family lived in the nearby town of Fairmount City for a few years when Schreckengost was a child before moving the two miles back to New Bethlehem. Schreckengost worked in the mines and played local baseball in New Bethlehem before he went to Williamsport in 1895 to play semipro baseball.

Career He made his Major League Baseball debut with the Louisville Colonels on September 8, 1897. Schreckengost's name was frequently misspelled, due to which he was often referred to by nicknames. Early in his career, the Washington Post referred to him as "the Ghost", while teammates called him "Rocking Horse", after a mangled pronunciation of his surname. Schreckengost played without shin guards and was one of the last major-league catchers to do so.

Later life Though Schreckengost made his last major-league appearance in 1908, he spent the next two years in the minor leagues. He died of uremia at the age of 39 in Philadelphia; he collapsed at a local café the day before his death. His battery mate Waddell had died a few months before him. Schreckengost was survived by his wife, the former June Reed, who was from New Castle, Pennsylvania.