Rich Gossage

From SoSH

Goose Gossage

Born:	July 5, 1951
Birthplace:	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Height:	6' 3"
Weight:	217 lbs.
Bats:	Right
Throws:	Right
Drafted:	1970: 9th Round, by the Chicago White Sox
College:	University of Southern Colorado
High School:	Wasson High School
Teams:	Chicago White Sox 1972-1976 Pittsburgh Pirates 1977 NY Yankees 1978-1983, 1989 San Diego Padres 1984-1987 Chicago Cubs 1988 San Francisco Giants 1989 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks 1990 Texas Rangers 1991 Oakland Athletics 1992-1993 Seattle Mariners 1994

1 Overall Career
2 Awards
3 Achievements
4 Trivia
5 Transactions
6 External Links

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Overall Career

Richard Michael "Goose" Gossage (b. July 5, 1951 in Colorado Springs, CO) was one of baseball's premiere relief pitchers in the 1970s and 1980s. Gossage started just 37 games in his career, 29 of which were part of a misguided effort to use him as a starting pitcher in 1976. Gossage made 965 appearances out of the bullpen in a career spanning 22 seasons, pitching as many as 141.7 innings entirely in relief, which he did in 1975. Gossage relied almost entirely on a blazing fastball and was throwing in the mid-90s even into his 40s. He was also reliable in the postseason. Seven of his eight postseason saves came with the New York Yankees, and he also earned the save in the 1978 playoff game between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. He did not allow a single run in the 1978 World Series or the entirety of the 1981 postseason.

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Awards

Elected to Hall of Fame by Baseball Writers in 2008 (85.5%)

1978 American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award
6-Time American League All-Star (1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982)
3-Time National League All-Star (1977, 1984, 1985)

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Achievements

310 career saves, 17th all-time
3-Time AL Saves Leader (1975, 1978, 1980)
1975 AL Games Finished Leader

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Trivia

During his one season as a starter, Gossage was 9-17 with a 3.94 ERA and a WHIP of 1.357. He struck out just 135 batters in 224 innings. In his next season, his strikeout total actually went up to 151 in 133 innings, the best single-season strikeout total of his career.

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Transactions

June 4, 1970: Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 9th round of the 1970 amateur draft.
December 10, 1976: Traded by the Chicago White Sox with Terry Forster to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Richie Zisk and Silvio Martinez.
October 28, 1977: Granted free agency.
November 22, 1977: Signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees.
November 7, 1983: Granted free agency.
January 6, 1984: Signed as a free agent with the San Diego Padres.
February 12, 1988: Traded by the San Diego Padres with Ray Hayward to the Chicago Cubs for Keith Moreland and Mike Brumley.
March 28, 1989: Released by the Chicago Cubs.
April 14, 1989: Signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants.
August 10, 1989: Selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the San Francisco Giants.
November 13, 1989: Granted free agency.
January 25, 1991: Signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers.
October 30, 1991: Granted free agency.
January 27, 1992: Signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics.
November 6, 1992: Granted free agency.
December 7, 1992: Signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics.
October 29, 1993: Granted free agency.
February 15, 1994: Signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics.
March 30, 1994: Released by the Oakland Athletics.
April 3, 1994: Signed as a free agent with the Seattle Mariners.
October 11, 1994: Granted Free Agency.