»May 11, 1999:
The Astros pound out 18 hits in defeating the Pirates, 19-8. CF Carl Everett drives home five runs for Houston, while 1B Jeff Bagwell and 3B Ken Caminiti plate four apiece. Pirate backup catcher Keith Osik takes one for the team when manager Gene Lamont puts him on the mound in relief instead of his overworked relief corp. With the Pirates down 15-8 in the 8th, Osik walks two, strikes out one, hits a batter and gives up two hits. He allows four runs in his inning of work.
»May 3, 2000:
The Major League Baseball Players Association again denies several major-leaguers admission to the union. The players crossed picket lines during the 1994-95 strike becoming replacement players. These players don't pay union dues, receive full pension benefits, and can to use the Association's grievance procedure. However, they do not receive a share of royalties from the sale of baseball merchandise. Historian Stuart Shea notes the players are the only ex-replacements currently on major-league rosters: Benny Agbayani and Rick Reed of the Mets; Trenidad Hubbard and Kerry Ligtenberg of the Braves; Cory Lidle and Damian Miller of the Diamondbacks; Keith Osik and Rich Loiselle of the Pirates; Matt Herges of the Dodgers; Joe Slusarski of the Astros; Shane Spencer of the Yankees; Jeff Tam of the A's; Donne Wall of the Padres.
»May 20, 2000:
Catcher Keith Osik of the Pittsburgh Pirates is pressed into service on as a relief pitcher in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. Manager Gene Lamont has Osik finish the game and save the bullpen with the Pirates down, 14-3. Osik made a relief appearance last year giving up four runs in one inning of work, and today is not any better as he allows five runs on five hits, hits two batters, has a wild pitch and a home run in one inning.
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