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What set Gossage apart from his contemporaries was his transformative impact on the role of closers in baseball. At a time when the role was still evolving, he excelled as a one-inning closer, fundamentally changing how teams managed their bullpens. His ability to perform in high-stakes situations allowed him to redefine the expectations for relief pitchers, paving the way for future generations.
With 310 career saves and remarkable statistics that include over 1,000 games pitched and over 1,500 strikeouts, Gossage's numbers speak for themselves. He led the league in saves three times in the late '70s and early '80s and played in three World Series.