Gaylord Perry

Gaylord Jackson Perry (born September 15, 1938 in Williamston, North Carolina) is a All-Star Major League Baseball pitcher and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Related Topics:
September 15 - 1938 - Williamston, North Carolina - All-Star - Major League Baseball - Pitcher - National Baseball Hall of Fame

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Notorious for doctoring baseballs (throwing a spitball), Perry won 314 games over a 22-year career starting in 1962. A five-time All-Star, he was the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in each league, winning it in 1972 with the Cleveland Indians and in 1978 with the San Diego Padres. He is also distinguished, along with his brother Jim, for being the second-winningest brother combination in baseball history--second only to the knuckleballing Niekro brothers, Phil and Joe. While pitching for the Seattle Mariners, Perry defeated the New York Yankees on May 6, 1982 to become the fifteenth member of the 300 win club for pitchers, but the first since Early Wynn did it in 1963. In 1983, he became the third pitcher in the same year to surpass longtime strikeout king Walter Johnson's record of 3,509 strikeouts. Steve Carlton and Nolan Ryan were the others.

Related Topics:
Spitball - 1962 - Cy Young Award - 1972 - Cleveland Indians - 1978 - San Diego Padres - Jim - Knuckleball - Phil - Joe - Seattle Mariners - New York Yankees - May 6 - 1982 - 300 win club - Early Wynn - 1963 - 1983 - Walter Johnson - Steve Carlton - Nolan Ryan

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Despite Perry's notoriety for doctoring baseballs--he even went so far as to title his autobiography Me and the Spitter--(co-authored by Cleveland baseball newspaper writer Bob Sudyk) he wouldn't be ejected for the illegal practice until 1983, his 20th season in the majors. Perry also reportedly approached the makers of Vaseline about endorsing the product and was allegedly rebuffed with a one-line postcard reading, "We soothe babies' backsides, not baseballs."

Related Topics:
1983 - Vaseline

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Like most pitchers, Perry was not renowned for his hitting ability, and in his sophomore season of 1963, he is said to have joked, "They'll put a man on the moon before I hit a home run." On July 20, 1969, just hours after Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, Perry hit the first home run of his career.

Related Topics:
1963 - July 20 - 1969 - Neil Armstrong

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Perry retired in 1983 after pitching for eight teams (the San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals). He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991.

Related Topics:
San Francisco Giants - Cleveland Indians - Texas Rangers - San Diego Padres - New York Yankees - Atlanta Braves - Seattle Mariners - Kansas City Royals - 1991

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On July 23, 2005, the San Francisco Giants retired his number (36).

Related Topics:
July 23 - 2005

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