Yankees honor Gossage with Monument Park plaque

NEW YORK (AP) — Rich "Goose" Gossage has been honored by the New York Yankees on Old Timers' Day with a plaque to be placed in Monument Park.

Joined on the field by his family during the ceremony at Yankee Stadium, Gossage says it's the greatest day he's ever had.

The Hall of Fame reliever with the bushy mustache and blazing fastball pitched for the Yankees from 1978-83, helping them to a World Series title during his first season in pinstripes. He returned for 11 games in 1989.

Back in his era, closers routinely pitched multiple innings — and Gossage was no different. He went 42-28 with a 2.14 ERA and 151 saves for the Yankees, putting him third on the club's career list behind Mariano Rivera (652) and Dave Righetti (224).

The tribute to Gossage came one day after the Yankees presented Tino Martinez with a Monument Park plaque in a similar celebration.

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