Goose!!It's always great when an old Sox player makes it into the Hall of Fame, and yesterdays raising of Rich Gossage into the Hall was well deserved. Growing up in the Seventies and Eighties, he and another Chicago icon Bruce Sutter were the two most mind blowing closers in the game. Since the advent of a position of "The Closer" on teams seemed to gain full steam during these players careers, I have always felt that these two did more than any other to popularize that spot.
Although it is funny to think now, also was a starter. Coming up in the White Sox system, he won his first seven games a long reliever. He became the Sox's closer in 1975. On a terrible team, he was the All Star: 9-8 record, 26 saves, and a 1.84 ERA.
He made the All Star team again in 1976- the only player to ever make it in consecutive years as both a reliever one year and a starter the next- but he had a rough year. He had a decent ERA, but on a miserable team he went 9-17. Ouch.
What will seem familier to Sox fans, he was traded the next year for richie Zisk's one year run in the South Side Hit Men. Most of Gossage's career stats were achieved after leaving Chicago. However, one of my favourite Goose moments came back in Chicago as a Texas Ranger in 1991. He was 40yo and nearing the end of his career- well, he had a few more years- but still being called into games with the outcome in doubt. In July of that year, the Sox were losing 8-6 when they loaded the bases against Goose in the bottom of the ninth. Now remember, I love any old Sox player and I'm not rejoicing in this particular defeat of the Goose- but this game I remember for more reasons than baseball (the girl @ the time, the context, that nite), and so it's always stuck in my mind. The Sox loaded the bases, and Robin Ventura hit one of his near record career grand slams to win in the ninth.
Thanks, Goose, for it all. That fastball. That facial hair. The pitching style. The effect he had on the closer position. And for conjuring up that context. On many levels, I rejoice in the Goose making it to this stage.
Well done.
4 comments:
I don't know how to break this to you Hilts, but I don't think Goose will be going in as a White Sox.
My favorite save of his was in the 1978 one-game playoff with the Red Sox. Everybody talks like the game ended with Dent's homer but it was insanely stressful. The save was a classic but not pretty. I think he came in with one out in the 7th with runners on (unlike the current guys who always just start the 9th with the bases empty). He gave up some hits and I think two runs but he got out of a jam in the 9th and got Yaz to pop out to Nettles to end it. There was also a crazy play where Lou lost a line drive in the sun (afternoon game -- another cool thing that wouldn't happen now -- I got the nuns to put the tv on in the classroom for the early innings then I booked home on my bike to catch the end)in right but stuck his glove out at the last second saving the lead and the game. I think the difference was a Reggie homer and not Dent's -- another thing nobody mentions.
Anyway, yeah it's great he's going in and it's well deserved and a little late if anything. If you want to see one of the best rants ever just type his name in at Youtube you greasy co**sucker.
I agree- no doubt Goose will have the NY on his plaque.
goose deserves it as do a lot of players who will now be able to get in with the steroiders not having a chance. It really changes the dynamics. Rice and the Hawk will get in soon, whereas they probably wouldn't have made it with all the players from the nineties getting their turn.
Rice and Hawk need to get in.
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