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Article: Tanner's tutelage helped Gossage blossom
- Article from:
- Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- Article date:
- July 27, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2008 Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Richard "Goose" Gossage played only one season in Pittsburgh, but
it was former Pirates manager Chuck Tanner who set the path that put
Gossage into the Hall of Fame.
"Chuck Tanner and Dick Williams were the best managers I ever
played for," said Gossage, whose career included stints with nine
teams in 22 major-league seasons. "The best move that ever happened
to me in my career was Tanner putting me into the bullpen in 1972."
As manager of the Chicago White Sox, Tanner turned Gossage, a
hard-throwing, 20-year-old rookie, into a reliever. Five years
later, when they were reunited in Pittsburgh, Gossage had evolved
into one of the most feared closers in the game.
"He's the greatest relief ...