Gaylord Perry (1991)


Date of Birth: 9/15/1938
Date of Death: 12/1/2022
Birthplace: Williamston, North Carolina
College: Campbell University

Gaylord Perry, known as a spitball pitcher, played for eight teams over a period of 22 years in the major leagues. His longest stint was with his first team, the San Francisco Giants.

Perry started his baseball career in the early 1950s, playing with semi-pro teams in Texas. He was signed by the Giants in 1958.

San Francisco Giants

Perry played in the Giants' minor league system for four years before being called up to the majors in 1962. However, his first season was not successful and after only thirteen games and an ERA of 5.23, he was sent back to the minors. In 1963, he was primarily a relief pitcher for the Giants, pitching in 4 games as a starter and 27 games as a reliever. He had a 4.03 ERA in 31 games.

Perry pitched in 19 games as a starter and in 25 games as a relief pitcher in 1964. He had 12 wins and 11 losses, 155 strikeouts to 43 walks, and a 2.75 ERA in 206.1 innings. The next year, he was again both a starter (26 games) and a reliever (21 games). He finished the 1965 season with 8 wins and 12 losses, 170 strikeouts to 70 walks, and a 4.19 ERA in 195.2 innings.

Perry became a permanent member of the Giants' starting rotation in 1966. In 36 games, he had 21 wins and 8 losses, 201 strikeouts to 40 walks, and a 2.99 ERA in 255.2 innings. The next year, he had a 2.61 ERA in 39 games. He finished the 1967 season with 15 wins and 17 losses and 230 strikeouts to 84 walks in 293.0 innings. Defensively, he played well and he led all NL pitchers in assists with 64.

On September 17, 1968, Perry pitched the only no hitter of his career. He ended that season with a 16-15 record, 173 strikeouts to 59 walks, and a 2.44 ERA in 291.0 innings in 39 games. The next year, he led the NL in innings pitched with 325.1. He finished the 1969 season with 19 wins and 14 losses, 233 strikeouts to 91 walks, and a 2.49 ERA in 40 games.

Perry led the NL in wins and innings pitched in 1970. He finished the season with 23 wins and 13 losses, 214 strikeouts to 84 walks, and a 3.20 ERA in 328.2 innings in 41 games. Defensively, he led all major league pitchers in assists with 67 and in putouts with 30.

Perry had a 2.76 ERA in 37 games in 1971. He had 16 wins and 12 losses and 158 strikeouts to 67 walks in 280.0 innings. After the season ended, the Giants traded him to the Cleveland Indians.

Cleveland Indians

In 1972, Perry's first season with the Indians, he led the American League in wins and complete games. That season he won his first Cy Young award. He finished the season with a career high 24 wins to 16 losses, 234 strikeouts to 82 walks, and a career low ERA of 1.92 in 41 games. He pitched 29 complete games that year.

Perry again led the AL in complete games in 1973 with 29. He had career highs in innings pitched (344.0) and in strikeouts (238 to 115 walks). He had 19 wins and 19 losses and a 3.38 ERA in 41 games.

Perry's ERA dropped to 2.51 in 1974. He finished the season with 21 wins and 13 losses and 216 strikeouts to 99 walks in 322.1 innings in 37 games.

Texas Rangers

After just 15 games with the Indians in 1975, Perry was traded to the Texas Rangers. He played in 22 games with the Rangers and he finished the season with 18 wins and 17 losses, 233 strikeouts to 70 walks, and a 3.24 ERA in 305.2 innings.

Perry had similar seasons in 1976 and 1977. He had 15 wins each season, with 14 losses in 1976, and 12 losses the next year. His ERA in 1976 was 3.24, and the following year, it went up to 3.37.

The Rangers traded Perry to the San Diego Padres after the 1977 season.

San Diego Padres

In 1978, his first season with the Padres, Perry repeated his accomplishments of 1972, this time winning the NL Cy Young award. He led the league in wins with 21 (to 6 losses). That season he had a 2.73 ERA in 260.2 innings in 37 games.

Perry finished the 1979 season with a 3.06 ERA in 32 games. He had 12 wins and 11 losses and 140 strikeouts to 67 walks in 232.2 innings.

Final Years as a Player

In September of 1979, Perry asked for a trade back to the Rangers and the Padres granted his wish in February of 1980. However, he did not stay long with the Rangers and in August of 1980, he was traded again, this time to the New York Yankees. He pitched in 24 games with the Rangers and 10 games with the Yankees, he had 10 wins and 13 losses and a 3.68 ERA.

Perry became a free agent after the 1981 season, and he signed with the Atlanta Braves. He pitched in only 23 games that year, and he had 8 wins and 9 losses and a 3.94 ERA.

After being released by Atlanta at the end of the 1981 season, Perry signed with the Seattle Mariners. He had a 4.40 ERA in 32 games with the Mariners in 1982.

In June, 1983, after 16 games with the Mariners, Perry was designated for assignment. He then signed a contract with the Kansas City Royals and he played in 14 games with them before retiring at the end of the 1983 season. He had a 4.64 ERA in his last season in the major leagues.

Awards and MLB Records

  • Cy Young award (2 times)
  • Led the league in wins (3 times)
  • Led the NL in innings pitched (2 times)
  • Led the AL in complete games (2 times)

Career Statistics

Statistics for Perry in 22 seasons (1962-1983) in the major leagues include:

  • 5 seasons with over 20 wins, with a high of 24 in 1972
  • 14 seasons with over 150 strikeouts, with a high of 238 in 1973
  • 9 seasons with an ERA under 3.00, with a low of 1.92 in 1972

Career pitching statistics for Perry include:

  • 777 games played
  • 5,350.1 innings pitched
  • 314-265 win-loss record
  • 3,534 strikeouts to 1,379 walks
  • 3.11 ERA

Post Playing Career

In the late 1980s, Perry was hired as the baseball coach for Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina. He retired from that position in 1991.

Perry was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991 on the third ballot with 77.2% of the vote.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Gaylord Perry
ESPN - Gaylord Perry
Baseball Reference - Gaylord Perry

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