Tom Gordon

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*Boston Red Sox (by|1996-by|1999)
*Chicago Cubs (by|2001-by|2002)
*Houston Astros (by|2002)
*Chicago White Sox (by|2003)
*New York Yankees (by|2004-by|2005)
*Philadelphia Phillies (by|2006-present)

Thomas Gordon (born November 18, 1967 in Sebring, Florida) nicknamed "Flash," is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. Previously, he played with the Kansas City Royals (1988–95), Boston Red Sox (1996–99), Chicago Cubs (2001–02), Houston Astros (2002), Chicago White Sox (2003) and the New York Yankees (2004–05). He signed a three-year deal worth $18 million with the Phillies before the 2006 season. Gordon is known by his unique signal after striking out a batter; he points to the sky to show his appreciation.

High school career

Gordon attended Avon Park High School in Avon Park, Florida, and was a letterman in baseball. He was male athlete of the year his senior year with Tammy Warner a cross country and track runner.

Major League career

Early career

Gordon began his career as a starting pitcher with the Kansas City Royals, first appearing in five games at the age of 20 late in the 1988 season. He became an immediate sensation in Kansas City the following year, posting a 17-9 record and a 3.64 ERA in his first full season, and he finished second in the 1989 Rookie of the Year balloting. Gordon also recorded 153 strikeouts in 1989, the tenth highest total in the American League, all of which earned him the nickname "Flash." Early in his career, this nickname would trip a news "flash" alert in Associated Press newsroom software when it appeared in a day's list of probable pitchers.Fact|date=October 2008

Gordon continued to post top-10 strikeout totals during the 1990 and 1991 seasons, but his number of wins dropped each year while his ERA crept upwards. Finally, in 1992 Gordon had one of the worst season of his career, posting a 6-10 record and a 4.59 ERA. He bounced back with seasons of 11 or 12 wins from 1993 to 1995, but he never quite regained his rookie form. Prior to the 1996 season, Gordon left Kansas City and signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox.

In his first season in Boston, Gordon had a 12-9 record and a 5.59 ERA – the highest ERA of his career to that point. Over the next two years, however, the Red Sox converted Gordon from a starting pitcher to a closer and his career reignited. In 1998, Flash set the club's single-season record for saves (46) and was named to his first All-Star Team. His success continued in 1999 setting a major league record with his 54th consecutive save in June, but a nagging elbow injury limited him to just 21 appearances, which required ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (or UCL) also known as Tommy John surgery, that forced him to spend 2000 on the disabled list. His popularity in Boston at this point led Stephen King to reference him as the object of infatuation for the young protagonist of the 1999 novel "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon". After subsequent stops in Houston and both sides of Chicago, Gordon landed in New York. He was an invaluable addition to the Yankees bullpen, serving as a set-up for closer Mariano Rivera, or as a middle reliever in tough situations.

2006-2007

At this point, Gordon had compiled a career 122-111 record with 1733 strikeouts, a 3.99 ERA, 114 saves, and 1896.2 innings in 671 games (203 as a starter).

Gordon debuted in Philadelphia as a closer during the 2006 season, replacing Billy Wagner, who signed with the Mets after the 2005 season. On May 2nd, 2007, Gordon was placed on the disabled list due to a rotator cuff inflammation, at which time he was replaced in the closer slot by former starting pitcher Brett Myers. [cite web |url=http://www.metronews.ca/storyCP.aspx?pg=./m050430A.xml |title=Philadelphia Phillies place closer Tom Gordon on disabled list |accessdate=2007-08-26] Following both pitchers' return from the DL, Myers retained the closer position, while Gordon was shifted to a late-inning reliever. Flash was named to the 2006 NL All Star Team as the leading vote getter from the players.

2008

Gordon has fully rehabilitated his arm and is prepared for the '08 season.

On July 6, 2008, Gordon was placed on the 15-day disabled list for tenderness in his right elbow. Fellow reliever Brad Lidge praised Gordon calling him "a stud" and said that the Phils were hoping for him to return to the team after his 15 day stint. Prior to being placed on the disabled list, Gordon recorded a 13.45 earned run average giving up six runs in four total innings since June 11.

Family

Gordon is the father of shortstop Devaris Strange-Gordon, the Los Angeles Dodgers' 4th-round pick in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.

Career highlights and achievements

*Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award (1998)
*Led AL in saves (1998)
*Led AL in games finished (69, 1998)
*Set an MLB record with 54 consecutive saves (1998-99)
*Led AL in Holds (36) 2004
*Three-time All-Star (1998, 2004, 2006)
*Only pitcher in MLB history with 100 wins,saves and holds.

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
*List of Major League Baseball saves champions
*List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders
*Top 100 strikeout pitchers of all time
*Chicago White Sox all-time roster

References

External links

*
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/G/Gordon_Tom.stm Baseball Library]

succession box
title = American League Saves Champion
years = 1998
before = Randy Myers
after = Mariano Riverasuccession box | before = Billy Wagner| title = Steve CarltonMost Valuable Pitcher | years = by|2006 | after = Cole Hamels
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