Foster Castleman

Foster Castleman
Third baseman/Shortstop
Born:(1931-01-01)January 1, 1931 Nashville, Tennessee,U.S.
Died:November 9, 2020(2020-11-09)(aged 89) The Villages, Florida,U.S.
Batted:Right Threw:Right
MLB debut
August 4, 1954, for the New York Giants
Last MLB appearance
September 28, 1958, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
Batting average	.205
Home runs	20
Runs batted in	65
Teams
New York Giants(1954–1957) Baltimore Orioles(1958)

Foster Ephraim Castleman(January 1, 1931 – November 9, 2020) was an Americanprofessional baseballplayer.The native ofNashville, Tennessee,appeared in 268games playedover all or part of five seasons inMajor League Baseball,from 1954 to 1958, for theNew York GiantsandBaltimore Orioles,mostly as athird basemanorshortstop.He threw and battedright-handedand was listed at 6 feet (1.83 m) tall and 175 pounds (79 kg).

Castleman's professional career extended from 1949 through 1960, with the 1951–52 seasons missed due to military service.He was called up to the Giants during their1954 World Series championship seasonon August 4 and, in his debut, he bounced into adouble playas apinch hitteroffPaul Minnerof theChicago Cubs.In limited service the rest of the way, starting one game at third base, he collected threehits,allsingles,and onerun batted in.He did not play in the1954 World Series.In 1955, Castleman made the Giants' roster out ofspring trainingand hit his first two Major Leaguehome runson May 4–5, but he got into only 15 games and was sent back to theTriple-AMinneapolis Millersin late May.

Castleman's first full year in MLB was 1956. He succeededHank Thompsonas the Giants' regular third baseman, hit 14 home runs (tied for third on the club) and started 97 games at the hot corner. But hebattedonly.226, and lost his starting job in 1957 when he batted only.162 and was sent back to Minneapolis in mid-June. Over the winter, the Giants moved toSan Francisco,but Castleman never appeared for them in their new home. In March 1958, his contract was sold to the Orioles and he spent the entire season on Baltimore's roster as a reserve infielder, starting 64 games at shortstop, second only toWilly Miranda.Again, he struggled offensively, hitting only.170 in 98 games and 223plate appearances.He finished his professional career at the Triple-A level in 1959–60.

As a big leaguer, Castleman collected 136 total hits, with 24doublesand threetriplesto accompany his 20 home runs. He batted.205.

in his retirement he was employed by the real estate brokerColdwell Bankerin their Cincinnati, Ohio office.

Formerly employed Ran D. Lee of Cincinnati OH

Castleman died in November 2020 at the age of 89.

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orBaseball Reference,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet,orVenezuelan Winter League