Goose Flies Alone Into Cooperstsown
Former MLB closer Rich "Goose" Gossage was named Tuesday as the sole member named to the MLB Hall Of Fame Class of 2008. Gossage who was in his ninth year of eligibility was elected with 85.8% of the votes cast by the Baseball Writers Of America, far above the cutoff point for eligibility which is 75%. Jim Rice former Boston Red Sox slugger was just shy of getting elected as he received 71.2% of the vote, next year will be his final year of eligibility. Andre Dawson who spent the majority of his career with the Chicago Cubs captured 65.9% of the votes, while former starter Bert Blyleven garnered 61.9% of the tally. Former Cardinal and Oakland A's slugger Mark McGwire was again, greeted with disdain by most of the writers receiving only 23.6% of the votes, despite his prodigious home run numbers.
Gossage being named was long overdue, frankly I told colleagues when Bruce Sutter was named to the Hall a few years ago, that Gossage deserved equal treatment. Gossage pitched 22 seasons in the Major Leagues and acquired 310 saves. Much of his career was spent in the glaring spotlight of the "Bronx Zoo" AKA the New York Yankees teams of the late 1970's through the middle of the next decade. Gossage not only performed under the glare he thrived on it, becoming a major factor to the success of that era for the Bronx Bombers. Gossage joins, Sutter, Rollie Fingers, Hoyt Wilhelm, and Dennis Eckersley as the only five relievers in Cooperstown.
© Copyright 2007 thesackattack.com
Post a Comment