1980 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Gossage missed 78 games last season after suffering sprained ligaments in his right thumb in a clubhouse scuffle with teammate Cliff Johnson. Nevertheless, he saved 18 of the 36 games he appeared in and won five others.
The undisputed ace of the Yankee relief corps, Gossage signed a $2.75 million contract with the Yanks as a free agent. Born in Colorado Springs, he's capable of overpowering any hitter in the league. Known as 'Goose' he jumped from Class A to the majors in '72, making his big league debut with the White Sox at age 19. Goose was also used as a starter while with Chicago, but was much more effective in relief."
-Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1980 Edition
"Everyone who had seen him pitch knew Rich Gossage was someone special. Yankee superscout Birdie Tebbetts said it best when in his report on 1977 free agents, he suggested the Yankees not let any American League rival club sign Gossage. Well, the Yankees weren't about to let this Golden Goose slip out of their hands. When the Yankees announced the November 1977 signing of Rich Gossage, all who were present flashed brilliant smiles knowing the Yankees had made a strong move to bolster their late-inning relief.
In his first Yankee season, 1978, all Goose did was compile a league leading 27 saves, good enough to win the Sporting News Fireman of the Year and Rolaids Relief Man of the Year awards. He was also on the mound for the final out of the three most important victories that season: the playoff victory in Boston, the ALCS clincher against Kansas City and the World Series finale in Los Angeles.
Last season, a clubhouse scuffle produced torn ligaments in his right thumb, requiring surgery and causing him to miss three months of the season. But after a premature return to action, Goose was nothing short of sensational after the All-Star Game. He went 4-2 with a 1.59 ERA and 15 saves down the stretch. Even though he missed those twelve weeks, he still finished sixth in the A.L. in saves. He topped off the season by winning the A.L. Pitcher of the Month award in September, proving to Yankee fans that the Goose is indeed back one hundred percent."
-The New York Yankees Official 1980 Yearbook
"Goose missed 12 weeks of the 1979 season with a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpal-phalangeal joint of the right thumb suffered in a clubhouse scuffle with Cliff Johnson following the game of April 19. An operation was performed on April 22, and he did not pitch again until July 12. His '79 season can be divided into three parts: before the injury (1-1, three saves, 4.32 ERA, six games, 8.1 innings, nine hits, four earned runs, seven walks, four strikeouts), rehabilitation (0-0, no saves, 9.64 ERA, two games, 4.2 innings, seven hits, five earned runs, two walks, three strikeouts) and post All-Star Game (4-2, 15 saves, 1.59 ERA, 28 games, 45.1 innings, 32 hits eight earned runs, 10 walks, 34 strikeouts).
To say the least, he was fairly sensational after the All-Star Game, culminating in his being named American League Pitcher of the Month for September when he was 3-1 with six saves and a 1.82 ERA. Goose finished the season strong enough to place eighth in the A.L. in the Rolaids Relief Man standings with 43 points, one behind teammate Ron Davis; he also finished sixth in saves with 18- and he missed three months of the season.
As in 1978, Rich finished very strongly. In his last 28 games, he allowed runs in just four games and hits in just 15, and in his last 20 games, he had four wins and 12 saves, allowed runs in just two games and hits in just 11. He also struck out 30 and walked just six in 35.1 innings during those last 20 games, and did not allow a home run.
Gossage signed a six-year contract with the Yankees after he was their number one pick in the 1977 Re-Entry Draft. He was the man the Yanks were after following scout Birdie Tebbetts' recommendation that they let no contending club in the league get him. Goose responded with a super season: he led the A.L. in saves with 27 and won both the Sporting News Fireman of the Year and Rolaids Relief Man of the Year awards. He was on the mound at the finish of the three most important Yankee wins of 1978: the playoff win in Boston, the ALCS clincher against Kansas City, and the World Series finale with the Dodgers.
Rich started his Yankee career slowly, dropping his first three decisions, but then won three and saved seven in his next 12 appearances. His most impressive '78 outing was September 3, when he struck out the side (Paciorek, Robertson, Cruz) against Seattle on 11 pitches, with none out in the ninth with the tying run on third and the lead run on second. Goose finished '78 very strongly, earning 10 saves and two wins in his final 15 appearances. He added a win and a save in the ALCS and a win in the World Series.
Before coming to the Yankees, he spent a year in Pittsburgh, winning 11 and saving 26 while fashioning a sparkling 1.62 ERA in a then Pirate record 72 games. Goose struck out eight of 11 Dodgers he faced in a game on May 19 of that year.
Gossage had spent his entire career with Chicago prior to that after being scouted, drafted and signed by Bill Kimball in 1970. In 1971, he was the Midwest League Player of the Year after an 18-2 record with a 1.83 ERA at Appleton. He made the jump from A-ball to the majors the next year, making his debut at age 19. Goose won his first seven big-league games, all in relief, and his only loss that year was in his only starting assignment late in the year.
Rich was A.L. Fireman of the Year in 1975 with the White Sox. He compiled a league leading 26 saves with a 9-8 record in 62 games and had a 1.84 ERA, allowing only three homers and 99 hits in 142 innings. He was made a starter in 1976, but the Pirates moved him back to the bullpen the following year.
He came up in the White Sox organization with Bucky Dent, and they were roommates as well as teammates. Gossage grew up a Yankee and Mickey Mantle fan in his native Colorado Springs. He was captain of the basketball team at Wasson High where he played against the Rams' Cullen Bryant and is a member of the Wasson High School Hall of Fame. Goose attended Southern Colorado State College where he majored in Forestry. He lists Rod Carew as his toughest individual opponent.
Gossage enjoys hunting, fishing, golf and racquetball."
-New York Yankees 1980 Media Guide
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