Today in Chicago Cubs History: Goose Gossage Records 300th Save

Rich "Goose" Gossage was one of the best relief pitchers of the 1970s and 1980s. Over the course of his 22-year career, Gossage appeared in over 1,000 games, saving 310 of them and winning another 124. However, by the time he reached Chicago in a 1988 trade with the Padres, Gossage's best years were behind him.

Gossage pitched solidly to start the season, carrying a 3.41 ERA and 2.73 FIP into the Cubs' Aug. 6 game against the Phillies. The Cubs got off to a strong start, scoring two runs in the first inning and adding another in the second. In the sixth inning with a 5-2 lead, Cubs starter Al Nipper handed the ball off to Pat Perry. Perry shut down the opposition and faced the minimum number of batters, carrying a 7-2 lead into the ninth inning.

In the ninth inning, however, Perry ran into trouble. He recorded two outs, but also allowed a walk and three singles, bringing the tying run to the plate in leadoff hitter Phil Bradley. Not wanting to take any chances, Cubs manager Don Zimmer made the call to bring Gossage into the game.

Gossage got ahead of Bradley 0-2 before coaxing a popup which Ryne Sandberg secured for the final out of the game and Gossage's 300th career save. He joined Rollie Fingers as only the second pitcher to reach the milestone.

Gossage struggled down the stretch, pitching to a 6.28 ERA and 5.14 FIP after his save against the Phillies. After his season with the Cubs, Gossage bounced between several teams, including a stint in Japan, before retiring after the 1994 season.

Gossage's milestone speaks to differing strategies regarding reliever usage. By the time Gossage retired, the 300 save club had grown to 5 members, with the additions of Jeff Reardon, Lee Smith, and Bruce Sutter. In the 30 years since then, the club has expanded to 31 members. In today's era of specialist one-inning closers, it is much more likely that a single pitcher can rack up big save totals.

Gossage's achievement was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable Cubs season. The team would rebound in the 1989 season, reaching the playoffs for the second time that decade before losing to the Giants in the NLCS.