"He came so close. But that's a sign that he's going to get there with me soon. I said it before and I'll say it again: I didn't fear any hitter, but he was the closest I ever came to fearing."
Gossage was named on 466 of 543 ballots (85.8 percent) cast by 10-year members of the BBWAA.
"It was very emotional, I'll tell you, off the charts," said Gossage. "I can't describe the feeling. I can't lie. There's been some frustration and some disappointment."
Rice, who has one more year of eligibility in the writers' balloting, received 392 votes, or 72.2 percent, just shy of the 75 percent required for election. He seemed to be helped by the absence of a first-time slam-dunk candidate this time, as his total was up by 46 votes from 2007.
In a statement released by the Red Sox, for whom he played 15 seasons, Rice said, "Today's results are obviously a disappointment. I believe my accomplishments speak for themselves, and a majority of the voters seem to agree. It is tough to come this close, but I remain hopeful for the 2009 results."
Gossage, though genuinely disappointed at Rice's shortfall, was buoyant about winning election after nine years on the ballot. The fifth reliever to be elected, he had a career record of 124-107 with a 3.01 ERA and 310 saves, appearing in 1,002 games with nine teams over 22 seasons. He struck out 1,502.
In these parts, Gossage is remembered as the imposing figure coming out of the Yankee bullpen. He closed out the infamous "Bucky Dent" playoff game in 1978, preserving a 5-4 New York victory by getting fellow Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski on a popup to end it.
"I loved that rivalry," Gossage said. "I respected every one of the Red Sox players. They had a great lineup and Jimmy was really the centerpiece of that lineup. He made it go. He was a great hitter. I don't think anyone would ever have a bad word about him."
The feeling is mutual. Rice said recently, "Goose was one of the toughest competitors you'll ever see on that mound. When he came on, you were in for a battle. He won more than his share. I'd be very happy for Goose if he got in."
