Gaylord Perry
From BR Bullpen
Gaylord Jackson Perry
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 4", Weight 215 lb.
- Debut April 14, 1962
- Final Game September 21, 1983
- Born September 15, 1938 in Williamston, NC USA
- Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1991
[edit] Biographical Information
A two time Cy Young Award winner, Gaylord Perry won the award in 1972 with the Cleveland Indians and again in 1978 with the San Diego Padres. His brother Jim Perry also won the award for the Minnesota Twins in 1970. The Perry brothers are the only set of brothers to both win Cy Young Awards.
Perry was famous for a series of motions where he would touch his face to make the batter think he was loading up a spitball. Perry was long believed to have doctored the baseball but was only caught once, on August 23, 1982, in his 21st season.
Gaylord Perry was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 8, 1991 by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
- 314 career wins
When Gaylord's daughter Alison was five years old a reporter asked her if her daddy threw a greaseball. "It's a hard slider," she replied, without missing a beat. Quote: "Gaylord is a great pitcher; a great, great one. But he also is a great, great competitor. Nobody wants to win more than Gaylord. He's remarkable." Ken Aspromonte, Indians manager, 1974.
A dreadful hitter, even for a pitcher, Perry compiled a .131 career BA, and a .156 OBP. Perry holds the batting record of most strikeouts in a season without collecting a single walk. In 1970, he struck out 47 times but did not walk once.
Has a nephew, Chris Perry, who is a professional golfer.
- First Baseball Card appearance 1962 Topps
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 5-time All-Star (1966, 1970, 1972, 1974 & 1979)
- 2-time Cy Young Award Winner (1972/AL & 1978/NL)
- 3-time League Wins Leader (1970/NL, 1972/AL & 1978/NL)
- NL Winning Percentage Leader (1978)
- 2-time NL Innings Pitched Leader (1969 & 1970)
- 2-time AL Complete Games Leader (1972 & 1973)
- NL Shutouts Leader (1970)
- 15 Win Seasons: 13 (1966-1978)
- 20 Win Seasons: 5 (1966, 1970, 1972, 1974 & 1978)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 17 (1964, 1966-1980 & 1982)
- 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 6 (1969, 1970 & 1972-1975)
- 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 8 (1966, 1967, 1969, 1970 & 1972-1975)
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1991
| AL Cy Young Award | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1972 | 1973 |
| Vida Blue | Gaylord Perry | Jim Palmer |
| NL Cy Young Award | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
| Steve Carlton | Gaylord Perry | Bruce Sutter |
[edit] Further Reading
- Thomas Boswell: "Seasons of the Hill: The K-Y Kid" in Why Time Begins on Opening Day, Penguin Books, New York, 1984, pp. 148-154
