"Goose" Gossage is a former MLB right-handed relief pitcher. The Chicago White Sox selected him in the ninth round of the 1970 Major League Baseball draft, right out of high school.
During a 22-year baseball career (1972–1994), 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, he was one of the earliest manifestations of the dominating modern closer, with wild facial hair and a gruff demeanor to go along with his blistering fastball. He led the 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. When he retired he also ranked third in major-league career games pitched (1,002), and as of 2021 remains third in wins in relief (115) and innings pitched in relief (1,5562⁄3). Goose's 1,502 strikeouts place him behind only Hoyt Wilhelm among pitchers who pitched primarily in relief, as of 2021. In 1980 he finished third in AL voting for both the MVP Award and Cy Young Award as the Yankees won a division title.
His eight All-Star selections as a reliever were a record until Mariano Rivera passed him in 2008. Gossage was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008. As of 20212, he now works in broadcasting.
