At last night’s opening game of the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, National Player of the Year Cat Osterman threw a one-hitter and struck out 18 batters (an NCAA Women’s College World Series record).
Osterman, now 38-2, just missed firing a perfect game. She allowed one hit, a leadoff single to left field in the second inning. Osterman faced only 22 Sun Devil hitters, one batter over the minimum.
It was also her 27th shutout of the season.
The University of Texas has had some truly great athletes who have worn burnt orange. A short list of Longhorn greats includes:
- Earl Campbell
- Ricky Williams
- Vince Young
- Ben Crenshaw
- Tom Kite
- Huston Street
- Bobby Layne
- Gary Wayne Hall Jr.
- TJ Ford
- Roger Clemens
As great as some of those athletes on that list were — I don’t believe any of them dominated their sport in nearly as remarkable a manner as Cat Osterman has dominated her’s. In fact, I would posit that the only Austin athlete who has ever been more dominate than Osterman over their competition is Lance Armstrong. But he didn’t go to UT.
Take a look at Cat’s 4-year career stats at Texas:
- 134-23 career
- 117 complete games
- 84 shutouts
- 2216 strikeouts — becoming the first student-athlete in NCAA history to surpass the 2,000 strikeout level
- 188 base on balls
- .50 career ERA
To answer my own question: Yes. I believe that Cat Osterman is the best athlete — regardless of sport, gender, or era — to ever play for the University of Texas.
More bio info on Cat here.
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Roger Clemens blows her away. 25-7 record in two All-American seasons, and was on the mound when the Longhorns won the 1983 College World Series. He became the first player to have his baseball uniform number retired at the University of Texas.
While he has two championship rings with the 1999-2000 Yankees, Clemens has also been on the losing end of four World Series (1986 Red Sox, 2001 and 2003 Yankees, and 2005 Astros) which is tied with Tom Glavine and John Smoltz (who were both on the Braves when they lost the ‘91, ‘92, ‘96 and ‘99 World Series) for most among active players.
In 1999, while many of his performances and milestones were yet to come, he ranked number 53 on The Sporting News’ list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was elected by the fans to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. In 2005, the updated Sporting News list moved Clemens up to #15.
By the end of the 2005 season, Clemens had won seven Cy Young Awards, an MVP and two pitching triple crowns. He has also been won The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award five times, and is a 11-time All-Star, winning the All-Star MVP in 1986.
I would agree Robbie! Considering her Olympic stint and her returning to finish out her eligibility, her stats and her impact to the team is invaluable. Also, some on the list above did not play all four years either from leaving early (Ford, Young, etc.) or transferring to UT (Clemens).
Too bad that Women’s Professional Softball will not allow her to showcase her skills like the guys get to in the NFL, NBA and MLB.
Anonymous-
Robbie’s post title states
I took that as referring to the performance on the field while at UT. No doubt, I agree that Roger is one of, if not, the greatest athelete from UT considering his professional credentials. If we are just looking at the time at UT, I still think Cat has them all beat… Just a personal opinion!
And guess what, she’s a Democrat too.
Well, of course she’s a Democrat — she’s a college kid. And an unpaid amatuer athlete.
But if she’s a smart girl — once she grows up and starts earning her own money, and gets another view not offered by the uber-liberal world of academia — she’ll grow out of it.
I have no idea of you would consider her the greatest…she actually pitches illegal. The foot that is suppose to drag the entire time (until the ball leaves the hand) actually comes off the ground making every pitch she throws against the rules of softball.
Hi Cat I am miranda I play for 12 and under softball fastpitch. I play for KOA ( kestone Oaks Area). I am a pitcher to . I am a Pretty good player . I am the 3 rd batter on my team.I have the # *8*( wit and I am The mian pitcher on my team. One TIme We were playing for the #1 trophie witch we got I struck out 14 out of 15 Batters witch is hard to belive Because I am only 11. But I think your a really player type back soon
your #1 fan miranda
Hey Cat. I’m Adrienne and I watch you all the time on ESPN!! I think you are the greatest pitcher ever! I play for NCGFS (North Canton Girls Fastpitch Softball) I am a left-handed pitcher like you. This is my first year playing fastpitch and I love it! I also play first base. I was really sad to hear today that you lost lastnight to the UCLA Bruins. I really thought Texas could’ve won.
P.S. My dream is to go to college at Texas and play for the Longhorns. That would be awesome!
Robbie-
Whats going on with this string of comments???
i think cat osterman is one of the greatest picthers i have seen i enjoyed watching her play and i would love to talk to her sometime so can always email me i would like to say to all the longhorns from this year softball team good luck in the future i was cheering for you and i enjoyed watching ever game
phil
CAT IS THE BEST ATHLETE TO EVER PLAY AT UT
Robbie-
Whats going on with this string of comments???
Dutch — it turns out that Cat has a blog of her own (a MySpace site, actually). My blog comes up as one of the top search engine results for Cat Osterman (not sure how), and I guess some of these young ladies have confused my blog as being that of Ms. Osterman.
But I don’t want to disuade them from posting their Cat fan mail here — I’d like to think that Cat does read UrbanGrounds, or at least will in the future when she discovers how much me and my readers adore her.
Thanks for the update… I was beginning to wonder how you were expanding your vast readership…
Cat-
Welcome to the best blog in Austin… Or at least Robbie and I think so!!
hey cat,. i think you our the greastest pitcher ever. even though im not a pitcher i play fast pitch softball for my school which is in south carolina and my school . i am a catcher. every game you played i tried to watch it. you are the best. and my dream is that you would become the texas longhorns coach and i could play for you. that would be so so so great. I really hope that will come true. i love softball. and i will never give it up. and i hope i will get to meet you in real life b/c i really look up to u. i try to be strong like u and never give up like u. u never gave up in that world series game. i was so sad that u had to leave. i couldnt hold back the tears. but dont worry. i wish you all the luck in the world your biggest fan laura # 8 will live on fore ever
Cat Osterman is such a good sport for the Texas team.She is realy good at sports.She is my favoriteHOOK EM beacause she is a pitcher,and so am I.I think Cat Osterman is the best athelete that has ever played for Texas.I hope one day I will be like Cat Osterman.I want to play for Texas like Cat.When I grow up i want to go to the same colege that Cat went to.Maybe they will be able to teach me what they taught Cat.Keep up the good work Cat.I LOVE U CAT.
#8
I think it’s hard to say who is THE greatest athlete to ever come out of the University of Texas. Cat Osterman is definitely ONE of the greatest athletes to ever put on the Longhorns uniform, however Roger Clemens had quite a feat. I think to be fair, Cat is the greatest female athlete to ever play at UT and Roger is the greatest male athlete. Both have dominated in different aspects of their game so it really is hard to say who is the Greatest. This is just my opinion so feel free to disagree. I don’t mind discussions that are amicable and educational. Osterman and Clemens are two of my favorite players so it is hard for me to decide anyhow. Either way, GO LONGHORNS! =)
How can anyone compare Cat Osterman’s 5 year career at Texas to Roger Clemen’s 15+ years in the majors? If anyone is trying to decide who was greater at UT, it should be by the numbers each put up at Texas, not by professional numbers, considering Osterman hasn’t competed professionally yet, or any other method. If someone has to compare her 5 year stats to his pro career, it may be obvious that she was overall better.
Hello everyone,
I just found this blog . Ifeel sooo blessed to have such a fan base.I love softball and UT more than I could ever say and I really hope it shows.Girls- Keep up the hard work.It might not seem like it right now but it will pay for you when you are as ready as you can get.If you think about how much you love the game and how much it means to you -this will help you to get better and better the more you chase after your desires and dreams of being the very best you can.Think about your strengths and weaknesses and how to use your strengths to help make you stronger.don`t quit when things get tough or hard.Winners dont quit ,run nor hide.Have you or anyone you know ever won by quiting ,running or hiding?I f you give up you lose right there.I dont know if I will coach or not but maybe one day I will.Got to go for now – I`ll be back again.
you are the best ever you are my hero i am 12 years old and i pitch and i want to arizona.
Cat you are truely my hero and I agree with everyone who thinks that you were the best @ UT. I have you all over my binder and on my screen savers. You are such an inspiration especially to me.
ur so good at soft ball, i wish you cuold teach me a thing or two about pitching, im a pitcher too! but anyways i cant find any of ur stats so post some. ily good luck
Cat is the best athlete ever at UT plain and simple. And Cat if you remember me which you probably don’t but that’s okay I was at Rapid City SD when you played their I even stood in line for a while just to get your autograph it was the coolest thing ever!! #8 rocks