Tom Gordon #36

Thomas Gordon...nickname is "Flash."...Graduated from Avon Park High School in Avon Park, Fla. in 1986, and lettered in baseball, football and basketball....His brother, Anthony, pitched in the minors from 1992-94 for the Royals, White Sox and Brewers...Is one of the central figures in the Stephen King novel The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon...Was the 2006 recipient of the Steve Carlton Most Valuable Pitcher Award from the Philadelphia chapter of the BBWAA...Enjoys fishing.

2008

Despite allowing 5 runs and 4 hits in 0.1 inning and earning the loss in his season debut on March 31 vs. Washington and giving up 4 runs and 2 hits in 0.1 inning and earning the defeat on June 11 at Florida, posted a 5-2 record and 2.48 ERA (8 ER in 29.0 IP) in his other 32 appearances of the season...Went 5-1 with a 2.13 ERA (6 ER in 25.1 IP), 12 holds and a .216 opponents batting average in 27 games from April 3-June 7...Had 12 strikeouts in his first 8.2 innings pitched of the season (12.5 K/9.0 IP) and was not scored upon in 12 consecutive appearances (11.2 innings overall) from April 17-May 13...Was 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA (6 ER in 4.0 IP) in his final 6 appearances of the season from June 11-July 5 before being placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 6 with right elbow inflammation...Made 2 rehab appearances with Clearwater (A) before being shut down for the remainder of the season...Did not allow a run in 24 of his 34 appearances...24 of his appearances came in the eighth or ninth inning with the game tied or having a lead of 3 runs or less.

2007

Began the season as the Phillies' closer... Made 9 appearances (4.58 ERA) before going on the 15- day DL (strained right rotator cuff)... Appeared in 4 minor league rehab games before being activated on 7/16... Had a 2.89 ERA (3 ER, 9.1 IP) in his first 10 games off the DL... Appeared in 18 of the team's 28 games in September, including 13 of the final 15... Went 1-0, 1.32 ERA (2 ER, 13.2 IP) and .196 opponents' average in his final 15 appearances.

2006

Elected by the players as a reserve to the NL All-Star team (1.0 IP,1 H)...Received more player votes than any other NL relief pitcher...Finished 4th in the NL in saves (34) and 6th in save % (87.2) and games finished (53)...Averaged 10. SO/9.0 IP...Retired the side in order in 16 of his 34 saves, finishing T-2nd in the NL in "perfect" saves, behind only Trevor Hoffman (18)...Was the 7th Phillie in club history to collect 30 saves in a season...Took the loss in his 1st appearance as a Phillie, 4/5 vs STL (1.0 IP, 1 ER), before converting 10 straight save opportunities...Had a 13.2-inning scoreless streak (14 G), 4/9-5/6, giving him a 0.61 ERA (1 ER, 14.2 IP) through his first 15 games of the season...Collected 19 SO in his first 11.2 IP of the season (14.7 SO/9.0 IP)...Held opponents to an 0-for-23 streak, 4/23-5/6...Placed on the 15-day DL, 8/21 (retroactive to 8/13) with a strained right shoulder...Activated on 9/3 after making two rehab appearances with Clearwater (A)...The Phillies won 20 consecutive games he appeared in, 4/9-5/25...Overall, they went 51-8 (.864) in his 59 appearances, including 15-1 (.938) in his final 16.

2005

Was 5-4 with two saves and a 2.57 ERA in 79 relief appearances in 2005. ... Tied for third in the American League with his 79 appearances, one shy of his career high, established in 2004 with the Yankees. ... Ranked fourth among AL relievers with 80 2/3 IP. ... Opponents batted .203 against Gordon. ... Did not allow a run in 13 consecutive appearances from 5/20-6/21 and allowed only 3 ER in 23 appearances from 5/1-6/21. ... Held opponents hitless in 28 consecutive at-bats before Manny Ramirez's ninth-inning, lead-off HR on July 17. It was the longest active hitless streak by any pitcher in the Majors and the longest by a Yankee pitcher this season. ... In 18 games from 8/8-9/17, allowed only 1ER in 18 2/3 IP (0.48 ERA).

2004

Was 9-4 with four saves and established career-bests with a 2.21 ERA and 80 relief appearances with the Yankees in 2004...his nine wins were the most in a single-season since he won 12 games as a starter for Boston in 1996...ranked second among American League relievers with the nine wins and ranked fifth with 96 strikeouts...opponents batted .180 (56-for-311, 5HR); LH .185 (30-for-162, 1HR), RH .174 (26-for-149, 4HR)...retired 55-of-80 first batters faced (69%)...prevented 29-of-35 inherited runners from scoring (83%)...converted four-of-10 save opportunities (40%)...made appearances in consecutive games 15 times, three consecutive games eight times, and pitched in four straight games twice...was selected to the 2004 American League All-Star Team, the second All-Star selection of his career (1998, 2004)...retired only batter faced in the 7/13 American League win...made first appearance as a Yankee in 3/31 Opening-Day win at Toronto, allowing 1H in 0.1 IP...in 4/28 win vs. Oakland, pitched 2.0 scoreless innings (1BB, 1K) to record his first save of the season and first as a Yankee...pitched scoreless 10th (1H, 1BB, 2K) to earn his first win as a Yankee on 5/11 vs. Anaheim...on 5/22 at Texas, suffered first blown save of the season before allowing walk-off HR in ninth (by Barajas) to record second loss (1.1IP, 2H, 2R, 1ER, 1K, 1HR)...had not allowed a HR in his previous 24.1 innings pitched in 2004...did not allow a run and only seven base runners in 14 appearances from 6/2-7/3 (18.1IP, 5H, 2BB, 21K)...on 8/24 at Cleveland, tossed scoreless eighth to record second win of the series and sixth of the season (1H, 1BB)...earned his ninth win of the season on 9/30 vs. Minnesota, tossing a scoreless ninth inning...was 3-0 with a 0.82 ERA in his last 11 appearances of the season, allowing 6H and 1ER in 11.0IP (15K, 2BB)...made nine appearances in the postseason without recording a decision, allowing 12H and 8ER in 10.1IP (6.97ERA).

2003

Led White Sox relievers in wins (seven), saves (12) and strikeouts (91) and was second to Damaso Marte in games (66) and IP (74.0)...ranked among the American League relief leaders in strikeouts (2nd), strikeouts per 9.0 IP (4th, 11.07), wins (T5th) and opponents slugging percentage (6th, .291)...recorded his 100th career save on 7/12 at Cleveland to become just the 14th pitcher in major-league history with 100 career wins and 100 saves (John Smoltz joined the group later in the season)...allowed just 18.9 percent (7-of- 37) of inherited runners to score, fourth-best in the AL...converted 12-of-17 save chances (70.6 percent)...suffered blown saves in each of his first four opportunities before converting 12 of his last 13, including his final six...his 91 strikeouts were a career high in relief and tied for the fifth-highest total by a Sox reliever since 1974, while his average of 11.07 strikeouts per 9.0 IP rank second in Sox history behind Roberto Hernandez (12.67 in 1995)...his 66 appearances and 74.0 IP were his most since 1998, the last season prior to 2003 that he did not spend time on the disabled list...held opponents to a .213 (57-for-268) average and right-handers to a .196 (27-for-138) mark...first batters hit just .133 (8-for-60), second-lowest in the AL...allowed just 6.9 hits per 9.0 IP (74 H/91.0 IP)...was 6-2 with a 1.96 ERA (9 ER/41.1 IP) and nine saves in 10 chances at home, compared to 1-4 with a 4.68 ERA (17 ER/32.2 IP) and three saves in seven chances on the road...limited opponents to a .170 (24-141) average at home, compared to .231 (30-130) on the road...allowed five runs in 3.1 IP over his first four outings but compiled a 2.08 ERA (5 ER/28.2 IP) over his next 19 games ... allowed two runs on six hits over 18.1 IP (0.98 ERA) in 19 games from 8/12 through the end of the season, lowering his ERA from 3.88 to 3.16...compiled a season-high scoreless streak of 12.2 IP from 7/1-29...went 2.0 IP or more on nine occasions... threw 23.0 IP before allowing first runs at home on 6/27 vs. the Cubs...earned first win with Sox on 4/16 vs. Kansas City...his first save on 6/16 vs. Boston was first since 9/1/01 at Atlanta.

2002

Combined to pitch in 34 games with the Chicago Cubs and Houston, going 1-3 with a 3.38 ERA (16 ER/42.2 IP) and 48 strikeouts ...averaged 10.1 strikeouts per 9.0 IP, his third straight season with an average of better than one per inning...was traded by the Cubs with cash to the Astros on 8/22 in exchange for left-hander Russ Rohlicek and two players to be named later (right-handers Travis Anderson and Mike Nannini)...was placed on the disabled list on 3/28 after tearing the Teres Major muscle in the back of his right shoulder during spring training...was activated on 7/2 and made season debut that evening at Florida...threw 8.2 scoreless IP over seven outings from 8/29-9/12 and 8.2 scoreless IP over final six games with the Cubs...made 500th career appearance on 7/26 at St. Louis...win on 8/1 vs. San Diego was first since 5/6/01 vs. Los Angeles.

2001

Spent his first season with the Cubs and ranked ninth in the National League with 27 saves...converted 87.1 percent (27-31) of his save chances, including a club record 19 straight from 6/15-9/1...struck out 67 batters in 45.1 IP, an average of 13.3 per 9.0 IP, and held opponents to a .188 average...fanned at least one batter in 34 of 47 games...opened season on the disabled list with strained right triceps muscle...made two rehab appearances each with Class A Daytona and Class AAA Iowa before being activated on 5/1...made Cubs debut on 5/3 vs. San Diego, his first major-league outing since Game 5 of the 1999 ALCS vs. New York...win on 5/6 at Los Angeles was first since 9/2/98 vs. Seattle (with Boston)...save on 5/7 at Milwaukee was first since 5/31/99 vs. Detroit...streak of 19 straight saves converted ended on 9/5 at Florida when he allowed ninth-inning, three-run homer to Preston Wilson...did not pitch the rest of the season.

2000

Flash missed the season after undergoing right elbow ligament reconstructive surgery on December 13, 1999 ... the surgery was performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum.

1999

Pitched in 21 regular-season games and five in the postseason for Boston...was on the 15-day disabled list from 4/18-5/10 and 6/12-9/27 with a strained right elbow...began the season by converting first 11 save opportunities, extending his streak to a major-league record 54...compiled a 2.08 ERA with a .174 opponents average through 5/31...was placed on disabled list after allowing four runs in two-game span from 6/5-11...underwent reconstructive surgery on right elbow on 12/13 in a procedure performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum.

1998

Recorded one of the best seasons by a closer in major-league history, converting 46-47 save chances (97.9 percent)...led AL in saves and games finished (69), setting Red Sox records in both categories...appeared in a career-high 73 games and was named to his only AL All-Star Team, throwing 1.0 IP in the Midsummer Classic at Colorado...won the AL Rolaids Relief Man Award and was named AL Fireman of the Year by The Sporting News...suffered only blown save on 4/14 at Oakland but ended the season by converting final 43 save opportunities...averaged 8.8 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (78 SO/79.1 IP), allowed just two home runs and held opponents to a .191 average ...threw 20.0 consecutive scoreless IP over 17 outings from 4/25-6/6...earned 100th major-league win on 4/20 vs. Cleveland...pitched in two games of the ALDS vs. Cleveland (3 ER/3.0 IP)...during the offseason, toured with the Major League Baseball All-Star Team during a trip to Japan.

1997

Made 25 starts and 17 relief appearances with Boston...ranked among the AL leaders in opponents average (4th, .226), strikeouts per 9.0 IP (6th, 7.8) and strikeouts (10th, 159)...opened season in the rotation, going 6-9 with two complete games and a 3.59 ERA...was the Red Sox Opening Day starter at Anaheim (ND)...threw four-hit shutout on 5/17 at Minnesota, striking out season-high 10 ...also went the distance on 6/11 vs. Baltimore in 10-1 win...moved into closer's role in mid-August, going 11-13 in save situations.

1996

Established career bests with 34 starts (four complete games) and 215.1 IP in first season with Boston after signing as a free agent on 12/21/95...ranked among the AL leaders in strikeouts (8th, 171) and strikeouts per 9.0 IP (7th, 7.1)...recorded 1,000th career strikeout (Kevin Elster) on 4/3 vs. Texas...struck out 10-plus batters three times with a season-high of 12 on 5/10 at Toronto...threw two- hitter in 10-1 win at Seattle on 5/30.

1995

Made 31 starts in final season with Kansas City...allowed an average of 0.57 home runs per 9.0 IP (12 HR/189.0 IP), the third- best ratio in the AL...won four straight starts from 5/7-6/3, including a complete-game effort on 6/3 vs. Milwaukee.

1994

Was used solely as a starter, winning 11 games in 24 outings...limited opponents to a .237 average, the seventh-lowest mark in the AL...also ranked ninth in the league with 126 strikeouts.

1993

Began the season in the Royals bullpen, going 4-2 with a 3.93 ERA, before being moved into the rotation...went 8-4 with a 3.36 ERA as a starter...opponents to a .223 average, allowing 7.3 hits per 9.0 IP (125 H/155.2 IP)...struck out eight over 4.2 IP of relief on 7/9 vs. Detroit.

1992

Appeared in 40 games (11 starts) with the Royals...was on the disabled list from 8/12-9/1 with right rotator cuff tendinitis.

1991

Tied for eighth in the AL with 167 strikeouts, averaging per 9.0 IP (158.0 IP)...held opponents to a .221 average...struck out season-high 13 over 7.0 IP in first start on 4/20 at New York...went career-high 7.0 IP in relief in next outing on 4/28 vs. Boston.

1990

Tied for eighth in the AL in complete games (six) and ranked ninth in strikeouts (175) in his second season with the Royals... averaged 8.1 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (195.1 IP)...threw four consecutive complete games from 8/8-22, compiling a 1.54 ERA (6 ER/35.0 IP) ...went 8.0 IP in next start on 8/28 at Oakland before going the distance again with a three-hitter on 9/2 at Seattle.

1989

Was named AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News and AL Rookie of the Year by Baseball Digest and USA Today after going 17-9 with Kansas City...ranked among the AL leaders in opponents average (2nd, .210), strikeouts per 9.0 IP (8.4), wins (T6th) and strikeouts (10th, 153)...led all major-league rookies in wins and strikeouts...threw first complete game on 8/3 at Toronto...won seven straight decisions from 5/28-7/17.

1988

Made his major-league debut with Kansas City on 9/8 vs. Oakland, throwing 2.0 scoreless IP in relief...appeared in five games, striking out 18 in 15.2 IP (10.3 per 9.0 IP).