"After seven years in Cincinnati, he left to take the Yankees' $1.9 million over six years. Gullett continued to be plagued by injuries (shoulder, foot), but still had the best winning percentage in the American League, .778, for a career percentage of .686, tops among active pitchers. He started the opening game of the World Series for the third straight year.
In high school he scored 10 touchdowns in one game, and also once struck out 20 of 21 batters.
Born in Lynn Kentucky, he's a quiet county boy. You can take the boy out of the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the boy.
'Where I come from, even Cincinnati was a big change. I adjusted to New York.'"
-Phil Pepe, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1978 Edition
"Don Gullett is a winner! Despite various injuries, Don managed to notch the top winning percentage in the American League and ended up winning 14 of his last 16 decisions. There is no doubt that a healthy Don Gullett is among the top pitchers in baseball.
Gullett recorded his 100th major league win six months prior to his 27th birthday, and has the highest winning percentage of all active pitchers with 100 or more decisions. In eight big league seasons, Don has appeared in six Championship Series and five World Series. A winner indeed!
Gullett came to New York in November of 1976 as the first free agent signed by the Yankees under baseball's new rules. The six-foot, 190-pound left-hander proved a welcome addition to the Yankee staff.
Don is a lifelong resident of Lynn, Kentucky, where he is somewhat of a legend for his high school multi-sport feats. A year after his graduation, he found himself hurling in the World Series for the Reds. Last found him hurling in the World Series for the Yankees. Yes, Don Gullett is a winner!"
-The New York Yankees Official 1978 Yearbook
"Despite injuries, Don still managed to possess the top winning percentage in the American League in 1977 (.778). He reached the 100 mark in career victories last year when he beat the Royals, 3-1, on July 24. He lost his first two American League appearances, both to the Brewers, then won six in a row, 11 of 12, and 14 of his last 16 decisions.
Sidelined on July 30 with stiffness in his left shoulder, Don spent a month on the disabled list. His previous injury was a dislocated tendon in his right foot, suffered pitching against the Yanks in Game One of the 1976 World Series. Other injuries have been a broken thumb in 1975 and a pinched nerve in his neck and shoulder problems in 1976. Sidelined by hepatitis in 1972, Don had a back ailment in 1974 but was still named the Sporting News left-handed Pitcher of the Year.
Don returned to the Yankee rotation on September 4 to pitch a three-hit shutout over the Twins, his best effort of the year. He had a 12-strikeout game on September 23 against Toronto, the most K's by a Yankee pitcher in one game since Catfish Hunter struck out 12 Orioles in 1975. Don was the starting pitcher in a World Series opener for the third straight year.
Gullett was the first free agent signed by the Yankees following the 1976 re-entry draft. He was signed to a six-year contract.
His .686 winning percentage is tops among all active pitchers with 100 or more decisions. Twice he led the National League in percentage (1971 and 1975), the first time coming at the age of 20, his second year with the Reds.
At 19, in his rookie year, Don struck out six consecutive Mets in a relief role, tying a National League record. He had a no-hitter against the Cubs for 7.1 innings in 1971. His low-hit efforts have been a pair of 2-hitters in 1973 and 1975. Don won nine straight in 1973.
In his ninth year in the big leagues, Don is a veteran of six Championship Series and five World Series. He hit a home run in the 1975 Championship Series, his only one in the major leagues.
Described as the epitome of the All-American Boy, Gullett was a sensational schoolboy star at Southshore McKell High School in McKell, Kentucky in three sports. He once scored 72 points in a football game, once scored 47 points in a basketball game, and once struck out 20 of 21 batters in a baseball game. Don was the Reds' number one draft pick in June 1969."
-New York Yankees 1978 Media Guide
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