Don Gullett

Donald Edward Gullett (born January 6, 1951) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1970 through 1978, most notably as a member of the Cincinnati Reds dynasty that won four National League pennants and two World Series championships between 1970 and 1976. Gullett was also a member of the New York Yankees teams that won two consecutive World Series championships in 1977 and 1978. After his playing career, he served as pitching coach for the Cincinnati Reds from 1993 to 2005. In 2002, he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.[1]

Don Gullett
Pitcher
Born: (1951-01-06) January 6, 1951
Lynn, Kentucky
Batted: Right Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 10, 1970, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
July 9, 1978, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
Win–loss record109–50
Earned run average3.11
Strikeouts921
Teams
Career highlights and awards

High school

Gullett was born in Lynn, Kentucky and attended McKell High School in South Shore, Kentucky, where he was an outstanding three-sports athlete in baseball, football, and basketball. As a high school pitcher, he once tossed a perfect game—including striking out 20 of the 21 hitters he faced. Gullett excelled as a high school football player as well once scoring 72 points in a single game. He ran for 11 touchdowns and kicked 6 extra points. He was named all state in three sports his senior year (baseball, football, basketball). Gullett's legacy is remembered in a monument on the courthouse lawn in Greenup County, Kentucky that declares that "This is Don Gullett Country."[2]

Professional career

The Reds selected Gullett in the first round of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He pitched for the Sioux Falls Packers of the Northern League that season. In 1970, Gullett was so impressive in spring training, despite his inexperience, he made the big league roster of a team that would go on to win the NL Pennant. Pitching in relief of starter Ray Washburn, Gullett debuted on April 10, 1970, on the road against the San Francisco Giants. Gullett had an outstanding rookie season, appearing in 44 games (42 in relief) posting a 5-2 record and a 2.43 earned run average. In the 1970 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, Gullett pitched ​6 2⁄3 innings and allowed just one earned run (1.35 earned run average) as he and veteran Clay Carroll helped keep an injury-riddled pitching staff competitive in the series.[4]

Gullett played for the Reds through the 1976 season. In November of that year, as a free agent, he signed with the New York Yankees.[5] His fourth start with New York came on a rainy day at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore on April 25. During the fourth inning, Gullett slipped and fell on the wet pitching mound, spraining his ankle and straining a muscle in his neck. The injury required him to wear a neck brace and miss some starts.[6] In his return on May 7, he struck out 10 and threw 154 pitches in a complete game, 11–2 victory over the Oakland Athletics.[7] He enjoyed a 14–4 season with the Yankees in 1977, but shoulder problems in 1978 signalled the end of his career.[8]

During a nine-year career, Gullett accumulated 109 wins and posted a 3.11 earned run average and tallied 921 strikeouts.[9] Playing for only nine seasons, Gullett was a member of six World Series teams (1970, '72, '75, '76, '77, and '78), including four consecutive world champions ('75 and '76 Reds, and '77 and '78 Yankees).

At the plate, Gullett posted a career batting average of .194. In a 1975 National League Championship Series game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Gullett pitched a complete game and hit a single and home run, collecting 3 runs batted in.

Gullett was also sometimes used as a pinch runner by the Reds.

After sitting out the 1979 and 1980 seasons due to extensive shoulder and rotator cuff problems,[10] Gullett was released by the Yankees in late 1980.[11]

In 1989, Gullett played for the St. Lucie Legends of the Senior Professional Baseball Association.

In 1993, he rejoined the Reds as pitching coach, a post he held until being ousted mid-season in 2005.[12]

Career statistics
WLPCTERAGGSGFCGSHOSVIPHRERHRBBSOHBPWPBFWHIP
10950.6863.112661863544141113901205528481115501921123657631.227

See also

References
  1. "Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame at MLB.com". mlb.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  2. Kaiser, Robert (1 October 1989). "Don Gullet`s Spectacular Career Only a Memory". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  3. Reading Eagle (June 6, 1969) "California Outfielder Picked First in Draft" Accessed 2010, May 1.
  4. The Deseret News (April 17, 1970) "Gullet Relieves, Wins Baseball Debut" Accessed 2010 May 1.
  5. Beaver Country Times (November 18, 1976) "Gullet Yankees' Latest Millionaire" Accessed 2010, May 1.
  6. Chass, Murray (April 26, 1977). "Yanks Down Orioles for 6th in Row". The New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  7. Montgomery, Paul L. (May 8, 1977). "White, Rivers and Nettles Homer". The New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  8. Tri City Herald (December 2, 1977) "$ugar Ray on top" Accessed 2010 May 1.
  9. "Don Gullett Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  10. Schenectady Gazette (March 14, 1979) "Gullet 'Satisfied' With His Progress" Accessed 2010 May 1.
  11. Palm Beach Post (October 25, 1980) "Yankees Waive Gullett" Accessed 2010 May 1.
  12. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2091526
Preceded by
Buzz Capra		 National League Player of the Month
July, 1974		 Succeeded by
Lou Brock
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