On January 8, 2008 — Goose Gossage is voted into the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA on his 9th try, he is the only player to receive 75 percent or more of the writers’ votes (85.8) needed for induction

During the right-hander’s 22-year career, most notably with the Yankees, the reliever compiled a 124-107 record and saved 310 games, while posting a 3.01 ERA. Gossage had a 126 ERA+ and was a nine-time All-Star.

He is the fifth reliever voted into the Hall, but the third in the past five years. He joins Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley and Bruce Sutter as relief pitchers enshrined in Cooperstown. Jim Rice falls 16 votes short in his 14th year on the ballot. Tim Raines leads the first-time candidates, with less than a third of the votes needed for election.