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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Gossage takes emotional tour in Cooperstown

Goose Gossage: Kooler than Kuklinski tossing bodies into a squirming rat-filled cave…to be eaten alive.

Gossage, that famous mustache now gray, claims to have hit only three batters intentionally in his major league career: Ron Gant, Al Bumbry and Andres Galarraga.

“They had it coming,” he said.

Well, maybe not Galarraga. He was on a hot streak for the Montreal Expos in 1988 and Gossage, who was with the Cubs that season, said manager Don Zimmer warned the staff not to let Galarraga beat them.

“I’m in the eighth inning, Galarraga’s up, first base is open, the game’s on the line with two guys on, and I’m thinking back to the meeting before the game,” Gossage said with an impish grin. “I was in my delivery when I thought, ‘I’m not taking any chances.’

“Boom! I wasn’t going to put him on, so I saved four pitches and drilled him as good as I can drill them. Right in the ribcage. You could hear the air go out. It was beautiful.”

Repoz Posted: May 13, 2008 at 12:52 AM | 15 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: hall of fame, history, yankees

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1. jwb Posted: May 13, 2008 at 02:36 AM (#2778576)

Gossage, that famous mustache now gray, claims to have hit only three batters intentionally in his major league career: Ron Gant, Al Bumbry and Andres Galarraga.

Wouldn't it be be way kewl if Gant, Bumbry, and Galarraga beat Gossage with bats until he was comatose? Wouldn't it prove how tough they are? Wouldn't it be beautiful?

2. Dag Nabbit apealing [sic] his own check swing Posted: May 13, 2008 at 02:59 AM (#2778598)

He never hit Bumbry in the major leagues.

3. McCoy Posted: May 13, 2008 at 02:59 AM (#2778599)

“I’m in the eighth inning, Galarraga’s up, first base is open, the game’s on the line with two guys on, and I’m thinking back to the meeting before the game,” Gossage said with an impish grin. “I was in my delivery when I thought, ‘I’m not taking any chances.’

Close, it was the bottom of the 9th and Gossage ended up giving up two runs and losing the game.

4. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: May 13, 2008 at 03:12 AM (#2778606)

He never hit Bumbry in the major leagues.

Well... not with a pitch...

5. Dag Nabbit apealing [sic] his own check swing Posted: May 13, 2008 at 03:15 AM (#2778607)

My hunch is that Goose meant Doug DeCinces, but I could be wrong.

6. jwb Posted: May 13, 2008 at 03:16 AM (#2778609)

He never hit Bumbry in the major leagues.

That would make Bumby even tougher.

"That guy with the tubes in him? He talked tough. Said he was one tough hombre. A lot. Too much. Said he messed with me. He wasn't man enough to mess with me. He looked at me kind of funny once. Now they're giving him oil and vinegar IVs 'cause he's a freakin' vegetable."

7. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: May 13, 2008 at 03:57 AM (#2778628)

At least Gossage never made a hand gesture after hitting a guy just because he didn't feel like intentionally walking him. Because that would have violated the pure spirit of competition.

8. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: May 13, 2008 at 04:31 AM (#2778641)

“Boom! I wasn’t going to put him on, so I saved four pitches and drilled him as good as I can drill them. Right in the ribcage. You could hear the air go out. It was beautiful.”

Shockingly, Goose isn't a math whiz.

9. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: May 13, 2008 at 01:18 PM (#2778746)

I don't know how you could admit to hitting anyone from that era intentionally and not have Reggie Jackson on your list.

10. Styles P. Deadball Posted: May 13, 2008 at 01:50 PM (#2778766)

Gossage accomplished something with the 1988 Cubs, no matter how trivial? I beg to differ. He was one giant suckfest from April to October that year. I find it impossible that he could have actually aimed and hit Galarraga that season.

11. Styles P. Deadball Posted: May 13, 2008 at 01:53 PM (#2778768)

I don't know how you could admit to hitting anyone from that era intentionally and not have Reggie Jackson on your list.

Well, Reggie was a True Yankee. You just don't drill True Yankees, particularly when you're on the Yankees.

12. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: May 13, 2008 at 02:03 PM (#2778773)

"I haven't been as emotional as I was today. I can't even comprehend standing up on that platform and giving a speech and being in the Hall of Fame," Gossage said. "I've got to get busy on my speech. I'm just going to speak from the heart. I'll probably write it the night before. Maybe I just shouldn't even talk. Maybe I'll just give it to somebody to read."

That is definitely not the Yankee way to get inducted. You read your own speech. Then you pump your fist. Like Rizzuto did it.

13. Justin 'The Cespedobear' T Posted: May 13, 2008 at 02:13 PM (#2778780)

He's given the speech I'm sure he'll give at Cooperstown most every day for the last decade. What's to write?

14. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: May 13, 2008 at 02:34 PM (#2778803)

Well, Reggie was a True Yankee. You just don't drill True Yankees, particularly when you're on the Yankees.

Well, firstly, True Yankees don't sign with California. Secondly, I'm sure Gossage had plenty of chances to drill Jackson (1972-76, 1982-83). And thirdly, Reggie Jackson should've been #1 on any AL pitcher's to-drill list.

15. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: May 13, 2008 at 03:26 PM (#2778840)

He never hit Bumbry in the major leagues.

I love baseballreference in that it allows us to fact check the hazy memories of old ballplayer when they spin their yarns.

On the other hand, I think Homer said it last week: "Thanks for correcting me Lisa, because people love to be corrected!

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Gossage takes emotional tour in Cooperstown

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