| Goose Gossage | |
|---|---|
 Gossage in 2007 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: July 5, 1951 Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: April 16, 1972, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| NPB: July 4, 1990, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | |
| Last appearance | |
| NPB: October 10, 1990, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | |
| MLB: August 8, 1994, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 124–107 |
| Earned run average | 3.01 |
| Strikeouts | 1,502 |
| Saves | 310 |
| NPB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 2–3 |
| Earned run average | 4.40 |
| Strikeouts | 40 |
| Saves | 8 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2008 |
| Vote | 85.8% (ninth ballot) |
Richard Michael "Goose" Gossage (born July 5, 1951) is an American former baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1972 and 1994. He pitched for nine different teams, spending his best years with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Gossage was one of the earliest manifestations of the modern closer, with a bold mustache and a gruff demeanor to go along with his overpowering 100 mph fastball.[1] He led the American League (AL) in saves three times and was runner-up twice; by the end of the 1987 season he ranked second in major-league career saves, trailing only Rollie Fingers, although by the end of his career his total of 310 had slipped to fourth all time. When he retired he also ranked third in major-league career games pitched (1,002), and he remains third in wins in relief (115) and innings pitched in relief (1,5562⁄3); his 1,502 strikeouts place him behind only Hoyt Wilhelm among pitchers who pitched primarily in relief. He also is the career leader in blown saves (112). From 1977 through 1983 he never recorded an earned run average over 2.62, including a mark of 0.77 in 1981, and in 1980 he finished third in AL voting for both the MVP Award and Cy Young Award as the Yankees won a division title.[2]
Respected for his impact in crucial games, Gossage recorded the final out to clinch a division, league, or World Series title seven times. His eight All-Star selections as a reliever were a record until Mariano Rivera passed him in 2008; he was also selected once as a starting pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008. He now works in broadcasting.
- ^ Goose Gossage, National Baseball Hall of Fame
- ^ "Chat: Chat with former pitcher Goose Gossage – SportsNation". ESPN. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2014.