Colorado Springs Examiner

The Goose Flies to Cooperstown

In many ways Colorado Springs has a small town feel. Despite its current size, the growth the city has experienced has been fairly recent, allowing the Springs to keep its relatively close knit vibe. So when one of its own, Rich "Goose" Gossage, is enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame its a big event. 

No one in the history of Colorado Springs sports comes close to matching the achievements of Gossage. Goose was drafted by the Chicago White Sox and played for 9 teams over 22 seasons. The 6'3" righty with a fastball that topped 100mph ended his career in 1994 with 310 saves, 1,502 strikeouts, 124 wins, and 9 All Star appearances.

What makes Gossage's enshrinement into the Hall so sweet for Springs residents is that he was a local boy who made the city proud. He graduated from Wasson High School and after his career ended came back home and settled in to lead a regular life. I've bumped into him a couple of times, usually at restaurants, just hanging out with his family and friends.  For a town this size, bumping into a baseball legend is a surprise but Gossage has always kept an everyman, "I'm just a hard hat and lunch pail kind of guy", attitude that made him so succesful in the majors.  

Despite his impressive career stats and pioneering role as a closer, Gossage's enshrinement to the Hall of Fame wasn't immediate. He was first eligible in 2000 but the overall lack of respect relievers were given at the time and subsequent devaluation of the position (only 2 closers, Hoyt Wilhelm and Rollie Fingers, were in the Hall in 2000) made his entry into the Hall difficult.  But finally in 2008, Gossage and Springs natives could celebrate as one of the most feared relievers in the history of baseball took his rightful place in Cooperstown.

On Sunday, during a tearful 17-minute speech, Gossage thanked family, friends and teammates for thier support. And as he was doing so, a city thanked him. 

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