It’s difficult to say much more about Rich “Goose” Gossage other than, “He’s a hall-of-famer.”After eight years of waiting, Gossage received the call in January that he was to going to be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.The ceremony took place last month. But for many it wasn’t just Gossage getting inducted, it was an entire community.”Goose is one of the best known individuals, in the sporting community, who has ever called Colorado Springs home,” USA Hockey executive director Dave Ogrean said. “One of the great things about Goose is that this isn’t some place that he came and retired to. This is a place that was home to him from the time he was born, from the time he was learning how to throw a baseball, and it’s the place he kept coming back to throughout his playing career when he was garnering all that fame.”He has always been a Colorado Springs guy.”Gossage was one of baseball’s most menacing pitchers for 22 years. Gossage stop playing in 1994. He finished with 310 saves – far short of present New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera’s 440-plus saves.However, Gossage pitched in a time when relievers had to do more. Gossage tossed more than two innings 52 times. Rivera had done that just once before this season, and San Diego reliever Trevor Hoffman had never done it before 2008.Gossage, a ninth-round pick from Wasson High School, played 1,002 games, recorded 1,502 strikeouts and had a 3.01 ERA.”He’s an icon, a baseball icon,” Sky Sox general manager Tony Ensor said. “What he did for the game of baseball, the character he brought to the game of baseball is something I think is sorely missed with today’s players. He made you want to be a fan of baseball. You rooted for this guy.”He’s a hall-of-famer. We don’t get to tout too many hall-of-famers from our own neighborhoods.”Columnist Milo Bryant can be reached at 636-0252 or milo.bryant@gazettedev.gazette.com. Check out Milo’s blog, The Extra Milo, at milobryant.freedomblogging.com

US Soccer team member Carli Lloyd, left is fouled by Brazil’s Erika in the second half of the US team’s 1-0 win over Brazil in the Gold Medal Soccer game Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette

MARK REIS