Card-by-Yankees Card: The 1977 Topps Set, Card #152, Gaylord Perry (Article 28)

by Paul Semendinger

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Let’s play a game together. We’ll call this game, “That Hall-of-Fame Pitcher Was a Yankee?”

Dazzy Vance pitched 16 years in the Major Leagues. He won 197 games and was elected to the Hall-of-Fame in 1955.

Believe it or not, he was a Yankee. Vance pitched in a grand total of 10 games for the Yankees over two seasons, 1915 and 1918. His lifetime record for the Yankees was 0-3, 4.45.

Burleigh Grimes pitched 19 years in the Major Leagues. He won 270 games and was elected to the Hall-of-Fame in 1964.

Yes, he too was a Yankee. Grimes pitched in 10 games for the Yankees in 1934. His lifetime record for the Yankees was 1-2, 5.50.

Stan Coveleski pitched 14 years in the Major Leagues. He won 215 games and was elected to the Hall-of-Fame in 1969.

He was also a Yankee. Coveleski pitched in 12 games for the Yankees in 1928. He went 5-1, 5.74.

Lee Smith pitched 18 years in the big leagues. He was not a starting pitcher, but a closer. He saved 478 games in his career.

Lee Smith pitched in 8 games for the Yankees in 1993. He saved three games and had an ERA of 0.00.

And then there is Gaylord Perry.

Gaylord Perry pitched 22 years in the Major Leagues. He won 314 games and was elected to the Hall-of-Fame in 1991.

He, of course, was also a Yankee. In 1980, Gaylord Perry pitched in 10 games for the Yankees. His record was 4-4, 4.44.

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The 1980 Yankees were an interesting squad. Even though they all did not play together at the same time in New York, it is possible that there might end up being six Hall-of-Fame pitchers who pitched for the 1980 Yankees.

Gaylord Perry was a Yankee in 1980. He is in the Hall-of-Fame. Rich Gossage was also on that team. He’s also in the Hall-of-Fame. Jim Kaat was a pitcher on that team. He's in the Hall of Fame.

Also on that team were the following pitchers who have all had some Hall-of-Fame support over the years:

1. Tommy John

2. Ron Guidry

3. Luis Tiant

   
   

Look at the lifetime win totals of these pitchers who all, at one point, pitched for the 1980 Yankees:

1. Gaylord Perry: 314 wins

2. Tommy John: 288 wins

3. Jim Kaat: 283 wins

4. Luis Tiant: 229 wins

5. Ron Guidry: 170 wins

Those pitchers combined for 1,284 Major League wins.

Here is how many they had (In total) for the Yankees:

1. Jim Kaat – 0

2. Gaylord Perry – 4

3. Luis Tiant – 21

4. Tommy John – 91

5. Ron Guidry – 170

Amazing.