By Tennille Ayers
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
Richard Michael “Goose” Gossage (born July 5, 1951) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1972 and 1994. He pitched for nine different teams, spending his best years with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Gossage was one of the earliest manifestations of the modern closer, with a bold mustache and a gruff demeanor to go along with his overpowering 100 mph fastball. He led the American League (AL) in saves three times and was runner-up twice; by the end of the 1987 season he ranked second in major-league career saves, trailing only Rollie Fingers, although by the end of his career his total of 310 had slipped to fourth all time. When he retired he also ranked third in major-league career games pitched (1,002), and he remains third in wins in relief (115) and innings pitched in relief (1,5562⁄3); his 1,502 strikeouts place him behind only Hoyt Wilhelm among pitchers who pitched primarily in relief. He also is the career leader in blown saves (112). From 1977 through 1983 he never recorded an earned run average over 2.62, including a mark of 0.77 in 1981, and in 1980 he finished third in AL voting for both the MVP Award and Cy Young Award as the Yankees won a division title.
Respected for his impact in crucial games, Gossage recorded the final out to clinch a division, league, or World Series title seven times. His eight All-Star selections as a reliever were a record until Mariano Rivera passed him in 2008; he was also selected once as a starting pitcher. In 2008, Gossage was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He now works in broadcasting.
Nickname
The nickname “Goose” came about when a friend did not like Gossage’s nickname “Goss”, and noted he looked like a goose when he extended his neck to see the signs given by the catcher. Although Gossage is otherwise generally referred to as “Rich” in popular media, a youth sports complex in his hometown of Colorado Springs named after him bears the name “Rick”, displaying “Rick ‘Goose’ Gossage Youth Sports Complex”.
TODAY’S ALMANAC
Question of the Day
Advice of the Day
Home Hint of the Day
Word of the Day
Puzzle of the Day
Born
- Sarah Siddons (actress) –
- Sylvester Graham (inventor of the Graham cracker) –
- P. T. Barnum (circus owner) –
- Dwight Filley Davis (sportsman) –
- Jean Cocteau (writer) –
- Brooke Hayward (actress) –
- Robbie Robertson (musician ) –
- Huey Lewis (musician) –
- Rich “Goose” Gossage (baseball player) –
- Bill Watterson (cartoonist) –
- Edie Falco (actress) –
- John LeClair (hockey player) –
- Jason Wade (musician) –
- Shohei Ohtani (baseball player) –
- Dolly the sheep (first cloned mammal) –
Died
- Ted Williams (baseball player) –
- Cy Twombly (artist) –
- Burt Shavitz (co-founder and namesake of Burt’s Bees) –
- Sakari Momoi (at the time of his death, he was the world’s oldest man at 112 years old) –
HISTORICAL EVENTS ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY
- Physicist Isaac Newton’s Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica was published –
- William Booth established the Christian Mission (now called The Salvation Army) –
- Japanese destroyer Arare sunk in Kiska Harbor, Alaska –
- The bikini was introduced in Paris –
- Elvis Presley had his first professional recording session in Memphis, Tennessee; (first recording: That’s All Right) –
- Arthur Ashe defeated Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon, becoming the first African American male to win the British tennis title –
- Football’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers beat Saskatchewan Roughriders, 56 to 0. –
Weather
- Governor John Winthrop recorded “sudden gust” in N.E. Massachusetts –
- Sixteen horses were killed by hailstones in Rapid City, South Dakota –
COURTESY www.almanac.com
