For most of Rich “Goose” Gossage’s 22-year major league career, when the phone rang, it meant trouble and he was ready for it. But this past January when the phone rang, the news was great, and it stopped the one-time dominating bullpen ace right in his tracks.
After nine tries, the right-handed reliever with the trademark Fu Manchu mustache was finally elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame, one of only five bullpen dwellers ever to make it to Cooperstown. His fellow relievers elected to the Hall are Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter and Hoyt Wilhelm.