#5
of 20
Goose Gossage
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Goose Gossage dominated in an era before strict one-inning closer usage. He threw more than 1,800 innings as a reliever, an extraordinary workload. His 3.01 ERA came in multi-inning, high-leverage appearances throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Gossage recorded 310 saves despite different bullpen strategies of his era. He frequently faced the heart of opposing lineups rather than clean ninth innings. His strikeout totals were massive for his time. Gossage’s durability across 22 seasons is remarkable. He intimidated hitters with power stuff uncommon for his era. Adjusted for context and role, his dominance clearly places him among the greatest.
Career Numbers
124-107
W-L
3.01
ERA
1,502
K
1,809.1
IP
16
CG
310
SV
Goose Gossage at No. 5
On Top 20 Closers of All Time in History of MLB Baseball, Goose Gossage sits at number 5 of 20. Goose Gossage's pitching line on the card: 124 wins, a 3.01 ERA, 1,502 strikeouts. It also counts 310 saves. Goose Gossage debuted in the 1970s, and the Explore links below open that decade's page and the list of players born in USA. Dennis Eckersley is ranked just above at 4 while Rollie Fingers follows at 6. The order reflects the list's own criteria, set out in its introduction; the statistics are the site's standard career totals.