W-b Looks To Mediation To Free Up Police 
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Trained Mediators To Handle.

Arc Helps Bring A Fuller Life To Many With Developmental Disabilities

By JOHN ERZAR jerzar@leader.net
 Saturday, January 04, 2003 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1B 





West Wyoming native Joe Ostrowski, a sinkerball pitcher for three New York
Yankees World Series championship teams in the 1950s, died Friday at
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital at age 86. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Known by the nickname ``Professor'' because he wore large glasses and
taught high school mathematics during the off-season, Ostrowski played with
the Yankees during the 1950, 1951 and 1952 title seasons. He pitched two
innings in a 1951 World Series game against the New York Giants, allowing one
hit and striking out one. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ``Reaching that category of being a member of a team I admired all my life
was a dream come true,'' Ostrowski said during a 1999 Times Leader interview. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ostrowski's path to Major League Baseball was a long one with several
detours. He graduated from West Wyoming High School in 1934 and received a
teaching degree from the University of Scranton in 1938. He began teaching at
West Wyoming High School in 1938 and entered professional baseball in 1941
with the Boston Red Sox organization. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ostrowski's baseball career was interrupted by World War II, and he served
19 months in Italy as a medic. Upon returning to baseball, he was traded to
the St. Louis Browns (now the Baltimore Orioles) and made his big league debut
in 1948 at age 31. He compiled a 12-14 record in 66 games, mostly in relief,
during two full seasons with the Browns. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 St. Louis converted Ostrowski into a starting pitcher in 1950 and he
recorded a 2-4 record with a 2.51 ERA. The Yankees, though, were in need of a
left-handed relief pitcher and acquired Ostrowski in an eight-player trade on
June 15. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The next day, Ostrowski debuted in Yankee pinstripes against the Browns,
pitching one-third inning of relief. He remained a Yankee reliever through the
1952 season, but was optioned to Los Angeles of the Pacific Coast League
during the winter and retired after the 1953 season. He finished his major
league career with a 23-25 record in 150 games, a 4.54 ERA and 15 saves. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ostrowski continued his teaching career in the Wyoming Area School District
before retiring in 1978. He was also a high school baseball coach and
basketball referee. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ostrowski's obituary is on Page 6A. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ex-yankee From Area Dies At 86