Gossage Elected to Hall of Fame
Goose is Only Player to be Inducted at Cooperstown on July 27, 2008
Jim Rice and Andre Dawson barely missed election into the Hall of Fame on Tuesday, January 8, 2008. But a hard-throwing mutton-chopped reliever finally made the cut.
Rich “Goose” Gossage became only the fifth relief pitcher in history to gain election into the Hall of Fame, gaining election on Tuesday in his ninth try on the ballot. Known for his dominating fastball, fierce temperament and bushy facial hair, the long-time reliever received 466 of 543 votes (85.8 percent) from the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Unfortunately for Boston Red Sox slugger Jim Rice, he was passed over yet again, getting 392 votes (72.2 percent), which was just 15 shy of the number needed for election. Next year will be the fifteenth and final time that Rice’s name will appear on the ballot.
The next four highest vote getters were Andre Dawson with 358 (65.9 percent), Bert Blyleven with 336 (61.9 percent), Lee Smith with 235 (43.3 percent) and Jack Morris at 233 (42.9 percent).
Gossage Very Emotional About Election to Hall of Fame
Gossage relayed that he was at home, sitting in his living room recliner overlooking the Rocky Mountains when he received the call. He turned to reporters in the room and said, "Oh my god, I've been elected. He also said that he "was very emotional when he received the news and told reporters that the feeling was off the charts. I can't describe the feeling."
"A shock wave went through my body like an anvil just fell on my head," Gossage said about his reaction. "I think having to wait makes it that much more special." Gossage’s only disappointment at having to wait for so long was that his mother passed away in 2006, and with tears in his eyes, he explained how he hoped she would live long enough to see him inducted.
Goose Gossage's Career Highlights
Gossage certainly had the career accomplishments to gain admission. He was a nine time All-Star who pitched from 1972-94 and had 310 saves. Unlike today’s one-inning specialized closers, Gossage got many of those save in multiple inning outings. In fact, he collected 52 of them when he got seven outs or more.
Gossage was the 1978 Rolaids Reliever of the Year and finished in the top 5 in Cy Young voting in five different seasons. The Goose was also a dominant postseason hurler, working 19 games and earning 8 saves while posting a 2.87 ERA.
Gossage will be inducted July 27 in Cooperstown, joined by five men elected last month by the revamped Veterans Committee: former commissioner Bowie Kuhn, former Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley, managers Dick Williams and Billy Southworth and ex-Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss.
Williams managed Gossage on the San Diego Padres.
