The Yankees have been fortunate in having several go-to guys in their bullpen who had the ability to come in and close out games. Going all the way back to the 1960’s when the concept of a closer wasn’t even yet categorized in the stats, Luis Arroyo and his tantalizing “screwball” saved many a game for Whitey Ford. Sparky Lyle emerged during the Bronx Zoo years, John Wettland in the nineties, and finally, of course, Mariano Rivera.
In between, was Rich Gossage, who pitched for the Yankees from 1978-83.