Wikipedia:
Rich Gossage |
| Goose Gossage | ||
|---|---|---|
| Closer | ||
| Born: July 5 1951 | ||
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | ||
| April 16, 1972 for the Chicago White Sox |
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| Final game | ||
| August 8, 1994 for the Seattle Mariners |
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| Career statistics | ||
| Record | 124-107 | |
| ERA | 3.01 | |
| Saves | 310 | |
| Teams | ||
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| Career highlights and awards | ||
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Richard Michael "Goose" Gossage (born July 5, 1951, in Colorado Springs, Colorado) is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played 21 seasons for nine different teams, spending his best years with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres, before retiring in 1994. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Goose Gossage was one of the earliest manifestations of the dominating closer, with wild facial hair and a gruff demeanor to go along with his blistering fastball. He now works in broadcasting.
Pioneer of the closer role
The New York Yankees of the late 1970s and early 1980s arguably pioneered the set-up/closer configuration, which is used by most of the better teams today. The most effective pairing was Ron Davis and Gossage, with Davis typically entering the game in the 7th or 8th innings and Gossage finishing up. During one stretch with that pairing, the Yankees won 77 of 79 games in which they led after six innings.
One difference between Gossage and more recent closers is that Gossage often pitched as many as three innings to finish a game, while modern closers typically pitch the ninth inning only.
Gossage served up three of the more memorable and majestic home runs in major-league history. On October 10, 1980, Kansas City's George Brett hit a tide-turning three-run homer off Gossage into Yankee Stadium's right-field upper deck to lead the Royals to a three-game sweep in the American League Championship Series. Almost three years later during the regular season, Brett got to the Goose again in the Bronx, blasting a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the ninth in a game memorialized as the "Pine Tar Game."
Record
During his career, Gossage pitched in 1,002 games and finished 681 of them, earned 310 saves. Per every nine innings pitched, Gossage averaged 7.45 hits allowed and 7.47 strikeouts. He also made nine All-Star appearances and pitched in three World Series.
He led the American League in saves in 1975 (26), 1978 (27) and 1980 (33).
He missed most of the 1979 season with the Yankees due to a thumb injury sustained in a locker-room fight with teammate Cliff Johnson. Ron Guidry volunteered to go to the bullpen to replace him.
He holds the New York Yankees career record for ERA (2.14) and hits per nine innings (6.59).
In eight of his first 10 seasons as a closer, Gossage's ERA was less than 2.27.[1] Over his career, right-handed hitters hit a minuscule .211 against him.
On August 17, 1986, Gossage struck out Pete Rose in Rose's final major league at-bat.
Pitching
Goose Gossage was one of the few pitchers who employed basically just one pitch, a fastball. However, Goose's fastball was one of the best of all time, routinely throwing in the 98 - 102 mph range in his prime, with pin point accuracy. Occasionally he would throw a curveball or a changeup, but mainly just came right at hitters with heat, not afraid to knock them down to keep them from crowding the inner half of the strike zone. Even into his 40s, in the early 1990s, Goose still threw regularly in the mid 90s, though he did not close games as often as he did in his youth, serving as a capable and intimidating set up man.
Hall of Fame candidacy
Gossage has campaigned openly for his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was first eligible for induction in the 2000 balloting, and received less than 32% of the votes of the BBWAA (75% are required for induction). His support has steadily increased, with his showing in the 2007 balloting of 71.2% his best yet. Gossage fell only 21 votes shy of induction. No previous candidate has ever received that high a percentage of votes without being inducted on a subsequent ballot.
Gossage's failure to be elected thus far is often attributed to a lack of appreciation of the role of closer, a relatively recent innovation in baseball strategy. [citation needed] The induction of Bruce Sutter in 2006 made Sutter only the third closer in the Hall (after Rollie Fingers and Dennis Eckersley), and Gossage is widely seen as next in line. Gossage publicly voiced his displeasure at the decision of the writers to enshrine Sutter, at the exclusion of himself.
Following the announcement in January 2007 that Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. were to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, both publicly referenced their disappointment that Gossage was not inducted alongside the two legends. He received 388 votes, with a percentage of 71.2.[1] One has to receive 75% of the votes to be elected. Gossage is considered the most likely candidate to be inducted in 2008, when his main competition is Jim Rice, Andre Dawson, Bert Blyleven, and newcomer to the ballot Tim Raines.[2]
Retirement
Gossage lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is active in the community promoting and sponsoring youth sports. In 1995, the City of Colorado Springs dedicated the Rich "Goose" Gossage Youth Sports Complex, which features five fields for youth baseball and softball competition.
He has written an autobiography, released in 2000, entitled The Goose is Loose (Ballantine: New York).
See also
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions
- List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders
- Games finished
- Chicago White Sox all-time roster
References
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
| Preceded by Terry Forster Bill Campbell Mike Marshall |
American League Saves Champion 1975 1978 1980 (with Dan Quisenberry) |
Succeeded by Sparky Lyle Mike Marshall Rollie Fingers |
| New York Yankees 1978 World Series roster |
|---|
| 2 Paul Blair |
6 Roy White | 9 Graig Nettles | 10 Chris Chambliss | 11 Fred Stanley | 12 Jim Spencer | 14 Lou Piniella | 15 Thurman Munson | 17 Mickey Rivers | 19 Dick Tidrow | 20 Bucky Dent | 24 Gary
Thomasson | 25 Brian Doyle | 27 Jay
Johnstone | 29 Catfish Hunter | 31 Ed
Figueroa | 36 Paul Lindblad | 41 Cliff Johnson | 43 Ken Clay | 44 Reggie Jackson | 45 Jim Beattie | 46 Mike Heath | 49 Ron Guidry | 54 Goose
Gossage Manager Billy Martin | Dick Howser | Bob Lemon |
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