Former Major League Baseball standout pitcher Don Gullett, who was a member of four World Series winning teams, died on Wednesday at the age of 73.
Gullett began his career with the Cincinnati Reds, winning back-to-back World Series titles with the team. He later went on to have a successful stint with the New York Yankees. In 2002, Gullett was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame.
The Reds, Yankees, and Baseball Hall of Fame all honored Gullett in a series of social media posts. While the details surrounding Gullet’s passing were not immediately made available, a report from the Cincinnati Enquirer stated that he had recently dealt with some health issues.
Gullett had a successful career, going 109-50 with a 3.11 ERA in nine seasons with the Reds and the Yankees. He also had 44 complete games, 14 shutouts, and 11 saves in 266 career games.
Johnny Bench, former Reds catcher, paid tribute to Gullett, calling him “the best athlete and competitor I ever saw or played with.”
Born in Kentucky, Gullett was drafted by the Reds in the first round of the 1969 amateur draft and made his major league debut at the age of 19. He helped the Reds win the World Series in 1975 and ’76, contributing with 26 wins and a 2.68 ERA over those two seasons.
After retiring from playing in 1978, Gullett went on to coach in the Reds organization. Reds owner Bob Castellini described him as an anchor on one of the greatest baseball teams in history, stating that Gullett’s contributions to the team’s tradition and community will never be forgotten.
Gullett’s passing is a loss for the baseball community, and his legacy will undoubtedly live on.
