January 14, 2008
Congratulations to ‘Team Elk’ Member Goose Gossage
MISSOULA, Mont.— The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation congratulates Team Elk member Rich “Goose” Gossage on his election and upcoming induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The nine-time All-Star relief pitcher, only the fifth reliever to be immortalized in Cooperstown, is an avid elk hunter and conservationist who last year helped start Team Elk, a cast of sports celebrities who support and raise awareness of the Elk Foundation and its mission to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat.
Charter members of Team Elk also include golf legend Jack Nicklaus, NASCAR star Richard Childress and others.
“Goose is a longtime friend. He is one of the truly good guys and he has a tremendous work ethic. He’s someone you’d like to have in elk camp because he gets it—he enjoys the hunt and he’s passionate about stewardship for land and habitat. These are the things that drive all our members whether they’re truck drivers or accountants or Hall-of-Fame athletes,” said David Allen, president and CEO of the Elk Foundation.
A Colorado native, Gossage played 21 seasons for nine different teams, spending his best years with the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres before retiring in 1994. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he became one of the earliest manifestations of the dominating closer. Gossage made trips to the World Series in 1978, 1981 and 1984.
“The Hall of Fame is a huge honor for me and my family. I am just as proud to be a longtime member of the Elk Foundation and a part of the work they do for elk and wildlife in general. I have been to many Elk Foundation banquets and the people there are my kind of folks,” said Gossage.
Gossage will be inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in a July 27 ceremony at Cooperstown, N.Y.
Allen said the Elk Foundation will commemorate the event with a custom-made rifle of Gossage’s choice and that the newest Hall-of-Fame member will be in a hunting camp somewhere this fall on behalf of the Elk Foundation and its new television show.