Ron Oester

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=black
bgcolor2=#c6011f
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Ron Oester
position=Second Baseman
birthdate=birth date and age|1956|5|5
bats=Switch
throws=Right
debutdate=September 10
debutyear=1978
debutteam=Cincinnati Reds
finaldate=October 3
finalyear=1990
finalteam=Cincinnati Reds
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.265
stat2label=Home Runs
stat2value=42
stat3label=RBIs
stat3value=344
teams=
*Cincinnati Reds (by|1978-by|1990)
highlights=
*1988 Hutch Award

Ronald John Oester (born May 5, 1956, in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. Bill James described him as "a quiet, efficient player who was always overlooked".JamesAbstract|pages=p. 531]

Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 9th round of the by|1974 MLB amateur draft, Oester made his debut with the Reds on September 10, 1978, and appeared in his final game on October 3, 1990.

Oester was one of the few major leaguers who did not wear batting gloves. He perpetually developed blisters on his hands, and according to teammates, they would develop into deep wounds on his palms.

On July 5, 1987, during a Mets-Reds game at Riverfront Stadium, the New York Mets' Mookie Wilson slid hard into second base during a double-play attempt. During the slide, Oester, who was playing second, collided with Wilson. His cleats got caught in the turf, and he tore his left ACL. Oester did not return to action until July 16, 1988.

Oester was a member of the Cincinnati Reds team that defeated the Oakland Athletics in the 1990 World Series. Although he lost the starting second baseman job to Mariano Duncan that season, Oester was one of the team's top pinch hitters, hitting .299 that season and going 2-for-4 (.500) in the postseason.

He is currently the manager of the Cincinnati Steam.

References

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/o/oestero01.shtml Page at "Baseball Reference"]