Goose Gossage
- Style
- Fu Manchu
- Peak Era
- 1970s
- Born
- 1951
- Hall of Fame
- Inducted 2024
- Fan Votes
- 0 legendary · 0 meh
About Goose Gossage
Richard Michael "Goose" Gossage was born in 1951 in Colorado Springs and spent 22 seasons terrifying hitters from the bullpen. He broke in with the Chicago White Sox in 1972, had a dominant year with Pittsburgh in 1977, and then became the face of intimidation as the New York Yankees' closer from 1978 to 1983, winning a World Series ring in 1978.
Gossage later pitched for the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and Seattle Mariners before retiring in 1994 with 310 saves and nine All-Star selections. He was a multi-inning closer in an era before the one-inning save became standard.
He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008 and remains one of the game's most outspoken traditionalists.
Why the Stach Became Iconic
The Goose did not wear a mustache so much as aim it at you. Drooping well past the corners of the mouth, it paired with the glare and the fastball to form a complete psychological package. Hitters talked about the mustache as part of the experience of facing him.
It is the definitive "I am about to throw this very hard" mustache.
Career Highlights
- Chicago White Sox (1972–1976)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (1977)
- New York Yankees (1978–1983, 1989) — World Series champion 1978
- San Diego Padres (1984–1987) — NL pennant 1984
- Baseball Hall of Fame, Class of 2008
- Nine-time All-Star across three decades.
- He recorded the final out of the 1978 American League East tie-breaker game against Boston.
- Gossage was famously allowed to keep his facial hair under the Yankees' grooming policy because mustaches were permitted; only beards were not.
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