Rich Gossage Position: PitcherBats: Right • Throws: Right6-3, 180lb (190cm, 81kg)Born: July 5, 1951 in Colorado Springs, CODraft: Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 9th round of the 1970 MLB June Amateur Draft from Wasson HS (Colorado Springs, CO).High School: Wasson HS (Colorado Springs, CO)School: Colorado State University-Pueblo (Pueblo, CO)Debut: April 16, 1972 (10,823rd in MLB history)vs. KCR 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 SO, 1 BB, 0 ERLast…
In his final major league game, Bruce Sutter, who missed all of last season due to shoulder problems, notches his 300th career save. The 35 year-old future Hall of Fame closer becomes the third reliever to reach the milestone when he retires the Padres in order in the 11th inning of the Braves’ 5-4 victory at Jack Murphy Stadium.
On July 24, 1983, the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees play the famed “Pine Tar Game.” At Yankee Stadium, George Brett hits an apparent two-run home run off Rich Gossage to give the Kansas City Royals a 5 – 4 lead with two outs in the 9th inning, only to have the homer…
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.
1979 – Rich Gossage and Cliff Johnson of the New York Yankees brawl in the clubhouse after a 6 – 3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Gossage suffers a sprained ligament in his thumb, which will keep him out of action until July 12th. As “punishment” for injuring the team’s ace reliever, the Yankees will trade Johnson to the Cleveland Indians later in the summer.
1978 – The New York Yankees win their fourth straight game, 7 – 2, to clinch their second consecutive World Championship over the Dodgers. Brian Doyle and Series MVP Bucky Dent have three hits apiece.
The New York Yankees sign free agent relief pitcher Rich Gossage to a six-year $2.75 million contract. Gossage had 26 saves and a 1.26 ERA for the Pirates last season. He will join Cy Young Award winner Sparky Lyle in the Yankees bullpen.
1976 – DH Minnie Minoso singles for the White Sox against the Angels’ Sid Monge. Said to be 53, Minoso is considered the oldest player ever to collect a hit in the major leagues, although he is in reality three years younger than his listed age, as will later be discovered.
1970 – In the June draft‚ the Padres select high school catcher Mike Ivie as the number-one pick and sign him in 3 days to a $100‚000 contract. He’ll play in the major leagues 11 years but catch only 9 games in the Bigs because of a phobia about throwing the ball back to the pitcher. Choosing next‚ the Indians take Stanford P Steve Dunning‚ who will debut in the majors in 10 days. He’s just the second player drafted who will skip the minors. Catchers Barry Foote (Expos) and Darrell Porter (Brewers) go next.