Goose Gossage is inducted into the Hall of Fame. The reliever credits Dick Allen and Chuck Tanner for their support early in his career. He is the fifth relief pitcher enshrined in Cooperstown. Also inducted are Dick Williams, Walter O’Malley, Barney Dreyfuss, Bowie Kuhn and Billy Southworth; all but Williams are deceased. Larry Whiteside is honored with the J.G. Taylor Spink Award and Dave Niehaus with the Ford Frick Award.

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Goose Gossage is inducted into the Hall of Fame. The reliever credits Dick Allen and Chuck Tanner for their support early in his career. He is the fifth relief pitcher enshrined in Cooperstown. Also inducted are Dick Williams, Walter O’Malley, Barney Dreyfuss, Bowie Kuhn and Billy Southworth; all but Williams are deceased. Larry Whiteside is honored with the J.G. Taylor Spink Award and Dave Niehaus with the Ford Frick Award.

Rich “Goose” Gossage was elected to the Hall of Fame in his ninth year of eligibility

Rich “Goose” Gossage was elected to the Hall of Fame in his ninth year of eligibility

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    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…

Relief pitcher Bruce Sutter is elected to the Hall of Fame along with 17 Negro League Players

Relief pitcher Bruce Sutter is elected to the Hall of Fame along with 17 Negro League Players

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Relief pitcher Bruce Sutter is elected to the Hall of Fame. With 75% of the votes cast by BBWAA members needed for election. Sutter receives 76.9%, slugger Jim Rice is second with 64.8%, followed by reliever Goose Gossage at 64.6%. Sutter, who is credited with perfecting the split-fingered fastball, which is a pitch many major leaguers use in some form today, joins Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers and Dennis Eckersley as the only relief pitchers in Cooperstown. In a special election, seventeen Negro Leagues figures are also elected: Ray Brown, Willard Brown, Andy Cooper, Frank Grant, Pete Hill, Biz Mackey, Effa Manley, Jose Mendez, Alex Pompez, Cum Posey, Louis Santop, Mule Suttles, Ben Taylor, Cristóbal Torriente, Sol White, J.L. Wilkinson, and Jud Wilson. Manley is the first woman ever elected to the Hall, and the 18 inductees are the largest class in the Hall’s history.

Wade Boggs, a five-time batting champion, and Ryne Sandberg, a nine-time Gold Glove Award winner at second base, are elected to the Hall of Fame

Wade Boggs, a five-time batting champion, and Ryne Sandberg, a nine-time Gold Glove Award winner at second base, are elected to the Hall of Fame

ByTom

2005 – Wade Boggs, a five-time batting champion, and Ryne Sandberg, a nine-time Gold Glove Award winner at second base, are elected to the Hall of Fame. Boggs becomes the 41st player elected to Cooperstown in his first year of eligibility, while receiving 474 of the record number of 516 votes cast (92%). Sandberg receives 393 votes, six more that the needed number. Relief pitchers Bruce Sutter (66.7%) and Goose Gossage (55%), and outfielders Jim Rice (59.5%) and Andre Dawson (52%), are the only other players to be named on at least half of the ballots cast. All four will be voted in over the next five years.

Pete Rose makes his final major league appearance, striking out as a pinch hitter against Goose Gossage

Pete Rose makes his final major league appearance, striking out as a pinch hitter against Goose Gossage

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Pete Rose makes his final major league appearance, striking out as a pinch hitter against Goose Gossage. The Reds lose, 9 – 5, to the visiting Padres. A bright spot is Barry Larkin hitting his first major league home run, off LaMarr Hoyt.

Kirk Gibson hits his second home run of the gamegives the Motor City its fourth World Championship in franchise history
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Kirk Gibson hits his second home run of the gamegives the Motor City its fourth World Championship in franchise history

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With the Tigers leading 5-4 in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the World Series, Kirk Gibson hits his second home run of the game, a three-run blast to the upper deck in right field, putting the game out of reach to give the Motor City its fourth World Championship in franchise history. Padres manager Dick Williams had ordered his pitcher to intentionally walk the Detroit right fielder, but Goose Gossage, after ignoring the walk sign at first, convinces his skipper he can get the slugger out, only to be proven wrong two pitches later.

Padres land golden goose

Padres land golden goose

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The Padres, outbidding a dozen teams, come to terms with Yankee free-agent Goose Gossage, agreeing to a five-year deal with the right-handed reliever reportedly worth more than $5.5 million. During his four seasons in San Diego as the team’s closer, the 32 year-old will average close to 21 saves per season while winning 25 games, helping the Friars reach their first-ever World Series this year.

Dave Righetti, Ron Davis and Goose Gossage combine on a 4 – 0 shutout of the Oakland Athletics in Game 3 of the ALCS to give the New York Yankees their 33rd American League pennant

Dave Righetti, Ron Davis and Goose Gossage combine on a 4 – 0 shutout of the Oakland Athletics in Game 3 of the ALCS to give the New York Yankees their 33rd American League pennant

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1981 – Pitchers Dave Righetti, Ron Davis and Goose Gossage combine on a 4 – 0 shutout of the Oakland Athletics in Game 3 of the ALCS to give the New York Yankees their 33rd American League pennant.