Yesterday I learned of the passing of former MLB pitcher Don Gullett at the age of 73.
Although Gullett only pitched in the majors for nine seasons, he enjoyed a remarkable career. In those nine seasons, the teams he played for made the World Series six times. Gullett pitched in five of those World Series - four with the Cincinnati Reds (1970, 1972, 1975 & 1976) and one with the New York Yankees (1977). He actually won four consecutive World Series rings between 1975 and 1978 with the Reds and Yankees.
Unfortunately for Gullett, a shoulder injury would sideline him mid-way through the '78 season before the Yankees made their remarkable comeback against the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. Not only would he not appear in that year's World Series, but he would also never again pitch in the majors. Although he would remain with the Yankees through the 1980 season, his career was over at the age of 27.
Gullett ought to have been entering the prime of his career. It is worth noting that Gullett did briefly pitch again for the short-lived Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. If Gullett had stayed healthy and pitched 20 seasons in big leagues, he could have been a Hall of Famer. While I don't think he would have won 300 games or struck out 3000 batters, I don't think 200 plus wins with 2,000 plus strikeouts and a couple of more World Series rings would not have out of the question. Those World Series rings might have been enough to earn him a plaque in Cooperstown.
In the career Gullett did have, he went 109-50 with a 3.11 ERA during his tenure with the Big Red Machine and the Bronx Bombers. His .686 career winning percentage is 11th in MLB history just behind Pedro Martinez. Among lefthanded pitchers, only Clayton Kershaw (.695) and Whitey Ford (.690) fared better.
As it stands, I'm sure Don Gullett was very proud of his baseball career. Nevertheless, given the manner in which his career ended, Gullett also remains a baseball "what could have been." R.I.P.
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