Gossage still savors memory of Hall of Fame's call

"There had been some urgency when I first became eligible," Gossage said. "After I got out of baseball and people started to talk about the Hall of Fame, my mom said, 'I hope I'm still around if you do go into the Hall of Fame.'"

Susanne Gossage died two years prior to her son's 2008 induction in Cooperstown.

She'd been his strength ever since his father, Jack, passed away during Rich Gossage's junior year in high school.

"She was my biggest fan," he said, "and during those early years, there was some frustration.

"When she died there wasn't that sense of urgency. It was more about waiting for the opportunity. Baseball taught me not to worry about what I couldn't control. I didn't have a vote, so I had no control."

And when that call finally came?

"Well, the plan was to have a quiet day at home," he said. "But the next thing I know there's different people who want to be there for the event, and if I say yes to one [media member], I'm not going to say no to another.

"It was funny, though. Everybody is sitting there, waiting for the phone to ring, and it doesn't. Then it would ring and it would be a friend, wanting to find out if I had heard anything. It turned out the announcement was delayed because Jane [Forbes Clark, Hall of Fame chairwoman] had flight problems and so the calls weren't made until an hour later [than planned]."

The call, however, did come.

"I almost passed out," he said.

And the celebration began.

"Some people would say it should have happened years earlier, but I just tell them, 'The longer you wait, the sweeter the moment.'"

Gossage understood the challenge he faced in being elected. He was a reliever from that era of bullpen transition, when teams started to focus on having a "closer" but the role was not as cut-and-dried as it is today.

"Now you have these guys like Mariano [Rivera] and Trevor [Hoffman], who are so dominant in the one-inning role and build up the save totals," said Gossage. "People forget how we used to do it. That was something the newer [Hall of Fame voters] had to understand."

Video: Gossage always closed the door

Gossage is 22nd on the all-time saves list with 310. Rivera is the all-time leader with 652. There is, however, a major difference in terms of the workload. Gossage, who was fourth on the all-time list at the time of his retirement, pitched two or more innings in 125 of his saves, including 24 times when he went three or more innings. Rivera worked two innings or more in 10 saves -- a career-longest 2 1/3-inning effort against the A's on Aug. 23, 1996, and two innings nine other times.

"That's not to say we were stronger or better when I pitched, but just pointing out how the role of the closer has changed over time," said Gossage. "Face it. Hitters, pitchers, the old numbers have been blown out of the water. Look at saves, look at home runs."

Prior to the American League addition of the designated hitter in 1973, there were only 33 players who had hit 300 career home runs or more. Today, there are 137 in the history of the game.

Gossage spent 22 seasons in the big leagues, playing for nine teams, tied for the second most of any Hall of Famer with Deacon White and Hoyt Wilhelm, two fewer teams than Dan Brouthers.

Seven of those seasons were spent with the Yankees, the most of any team.

And that, said Gossage, was special because "the Yankees were my dad's favorite team. It went back to living in Colorado. The Yankees were affiliated with the Denver Bears, so that brought them closer to him.

Video: Goose's Hall of Fame Speech

"And then I got a chance to become friends with my dad's idols. I remember getting to know Clete Boyer. I told him, 'You were my dad's favorite player.' He looked at me and said, 'You mean Kenny.' I told him, 'No, not your brother, you. You were the Yankee. He loved the Yankees and he loved your defense and the way you played the game.'"

And Gossage knows his dad would have loved getting to go to Cooperstown for the induction ceremonies.

"Going there is like being a 10-year-old kid going to Disneyland and never having to go home," he said. "To be inducted is something you can't comprehend. It is beyond your wildest dream."

It, however, was a dream his father shared with him when Gossage was growing up.

"He'd tell me, 'You are going to play in the big leagues someday,'" said Gossage. "He'd start talking about Mickey Mantle. I thought those guys were cartoon characters. It was beyond belief for me."

And now look at Gossage.

He's sharing a spot in Cooperstown with Mantle and the rest of the Hall of Famers.

Tracy Ringolsby is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yankees bring in 2 bullpen arms for Banuelos

NEW YORK -- The Yankees kicked off the new year with a transaction, acquiring right-hander David Carpenter and left-hander Chasen Shreve from the Braves in exchange for left-hander Manny Banuelos, who was once regarded as one of the team's brightest prospects.

It is a move that promises to bolster an ever-changing Yankees bullpen, with Carpenter projected to slide into a setup role in front of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, who are expected to compete this spring for the closer's role.

In effect, Carpenter could replace right-hander Shawn Kelley, who was traded to the Padres on Monday for Minor League pitcher Johnny Barbato. Shreve offers another lefty option to compete for a roster spot in the spring, joining a group that includes Justin Wilson, Jacob Lindgren and Tyler Webb.

Carpenter strikes out the side

CHC@ATL: Carpenter strikes out side in 8th inning

5/10/14: David Carpenter enters in relief in the top of the 8th inning and strikes out all three Cubs he faces in a dominant appearance

Carpenter, 29, was 6-4 with a 3.54 ERA in 65 appearances for Atlanta last season, finishing 14 games and recording three saves. In 61 innings, Carpenter permitted 61 hits while issuing 16 walks and recording 67 strikeouts, and is arbitration-eligible for the first time.

The 24-year-old Shreve got his first taste of big league action last July, sporting a 0.73 ERA in 15 appearances with Atlanta. He started the year at Double-A Mississippi and also pitched at Triple-A Gwinnett, going a combined 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA and nine saves in 46 appearances.

Shreve's first career strikeout

PHI@ATL: Shreve fans Howard in Major League debut

7/19/14: Making his Major League debut, Chasen Shreve gets Ryan Howard to go down on strikes

Banuelos, who turns 24 in March, was touted alongside Betances and former prospect Andrew Brackman as the Yankees' "Killer B" group of pitching talent, but his trajectory was derailed by Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2013 season.

Last year, Banuelos returned to the mound and was 2-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) for Class A Advanced Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Making the majority of those appearances at the Double-A level, Banuelos struck out 71 and walked 31 in 76 2/3 innings.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Former NY governor Cuomo dies at 82, played in Minors

Mario Cuomo, the former governor of New York and an avid baseball fan, passed away on Thursday at the age of 82.

Cuomo was also a ballplayer, seeing time in 81 games with the Class-D Minor League Brunswick Pirates during the 1952 season.

A 20-year-old center fielder with the club, Cuomo hit .244 with a total of 62 hits, including one home run and 10 doubles.

Cuomo served as governor of New York from 1983 to 1994 and became known nationally for his ability to share his story of humble beginnings as a son of Italian immigrants.

While Cuomo dreamed of one day playing in the Majors, he knew it was a near impossible feat.

"I've gotten some things done [in my life]," Cuomo told MLB.com in 2007. "But I never thought of myself as a Major Leaguer, or good enough to be one. The first good player I watched as a kid was Joe DiMaggio, and that was like ballet. Since then, I played sandlot and college ball and came to understand how difficult it can be.

"Then you get some madman in the Minors throwing the ball 100 miles an hour and not knowing where it's going to wind up. And on one occasion it wound up in the back of my head. So, it didn't occur to me to ever be that good [in baseball]. God had other plans for me."

Quinn Roberts is a reporter for MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yankees' 2015 questions begin with rotation

There have been upgrades and additions along the way: Chase Headley flipped a two-month audition into a four-year, $52 million contract, Nathan Eovaldi and Didi Gregorius are now on the roster as young, promising players on the rise, and left-hander Andrew Miller provides a dominant arm for the bullpen.

The Yankees have brought back other members of the '14 club in left-hander Chris Capuano and outfielder Chris Young, while trading for left-hander Justin Wilson. They'll also have Alex Rodriguez back on the roster following his season-long suspension.

For what it's worth, the Yanks' Pythagorean win-loss record was calculated to be 77-85 in 2014, so manager Joe Girardi deserves credit for a job well done. Will it be enough to bring back a similar roster, or -- as some rival executives believe -- are the Yankees gearing up to make yet another a big winter splash?

Here are the Yankees' 10 biggest questions as they head into 2015:

10. Do they need to hold their breath with Tanaka?

Two September starts -- a good one against the Blue Jays and a clunker against the Red Sox -- comprises all of the information that the Yankees have about where Tanaka is after rehabbing his partially torn right ulnar collateral ligament. It is better than nothing, of course, and the Yankees were pleased that Tanaka was able to snap off a few splitters against big leaguers and return to Japan healthy.

2014 Year in Review

2015 Outlook

It's their hope that a few months of rest will permit Tanaka to recapture the form he showed in his first 17 starts of an All-Star season; if so, he should be the Yanks' ace. Chris Carpenter is a good example of a pitcher who continued to have success after a UCL tear, but the Yanks can't let their guard down. They know that any one pitch could be Tanaka's last of the year.

9. Can they count on CC Sabathia as a workhorse, and if not, who can be?

It's no secret that the Yankees worked Sabathia hard in his first four seasons, continuing to log miles after he was similarly pushed by the Indians and especially by the Brewers. Sabathia never complained; he loved having the ball in his palm, and he rewarded the Yanks with a World Series title and three All-Star selections.

Sabathia looking to bounce back

Sabathia confident he can bounce back in 2015

Matt Waymire and Jim Duquette discuss CC Sabathia's offseason efforts as the Yankees lefty looks to bounce back in 2015

That wear and tear has showed up over the last two years, as Sabathia posted a career-worst 4.78 ERA in 2013 and was limited to just eight starts in '14. Sabathia had arthroscopic surgery on his degenerative right knee in July and has been working out regularly at Yankee Stadium, saying that he feels close to 100 percent and wants to take on a full 32-start workload in '15.

The Yankees would welcome that, given the number of other pitching questions they have. In addition to Tanaka, Michael Pineda's Yankees time has been either dominant or disabled, and they won't have Ivan Nova back until at least May. Eovaldi and Capuano project to fill out the rest of the rotation.

8. Are the Yanks really out on Max Scherzer and company?

Which brings us to this point -- the rotation would look more solid with a name like Scherzer at the front, or even a pitcher like James Shields to muscle things up. Thus far, Yankees people are saying they have no interest in another big pitching deal after cutting big checks to Sabathia and Tanaka, and they never dipped in the Jon Lester pool. Even Brandon McCarthy's four-year, $48 million deal with the Dodgers was too rich for the Yanks' blood.

Still ... can you ever truly count the Yankees out for a big free agent? Agent Scott Boras dangled Scherzer in front of the Yanks' eyes at the Winter Meetings, opining that the Yanks need 50 wins and 600 innings from their top three pitchers to get where they want to be. Do they already have that?

7. Who should be the next closer?

It's difficult to believe, but the Yankees will be installing their fourth full-time closer in four years in 2015. Someone is going to follow Rafael Soriano (2012), Mariano Rivera (2013) and David Robertson (2014), and thus far it looks like Dellin Betances might be the best in-house fit.

Betances' milestone strikeout

NYY@TB: Betances sets Yankees' K mark for reliever

9/17/14: Dellin Betances strikes out Kevin Kiermaier to set the Yankees' franchise mark with 131 strikeouts by a reliever in a season

Betances was lights-out as an All-Star setup man in '14, shattering Rivera's 1996 franchise record for strikeouts by a reliever, fanning 135 men in 90 innings. He said that he would embrace the opportunity to close, as would Miller, who excelled last year for Boston and Baltimore and is tough on both lefties and righties.

The Yanks have other choices to help out, including Wilson, but Girardi would like to define roles by the end of the spring. Betances and Miller are the likeliest choices to scoop up the ninth inning, and club officials believe the next Yankees closer is already on this roster.

6. Which McCann will the Yankees have behind the plate?

When the All-Star balloting updates came out each week in 2014, McCann shook his head at the support he was receiving in the race for AL catcher -- not leading, mind you, but still within striking distance. Battling the Mendoza Line at the time, McCann said he didn't deserve to be on that list, and later called his first half "horrible."

McCann found a reset button of sorts at midseason and came back in a much better frame of mind, reaching base in 19 straight July games and slugging eight of his 23 homers in September. That's a lot closer to the frontline catcher that the Yankees thought they were getting, and they hope that McCann's adjustment period is completely in the rearview mirror as they go into the second year of a five-year contract together.

5. What'll be on the back of Mark Teixeira's baseball card?

It was only a few years ago that Teixeira would confidently speak about believing that the back of his baseball cards would have at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs by season's end. He hasn't made it there since 2011, and ongoing issues with his surgically repaired right wrist made that production impossible in 2014, when he posted a disappointing .216 batting average.

Pointing to the past performance of players like Jose Bautista and David Ortiz, both of whom bounced back from similar wrist ailments, Teixeira and the Yankees believe that better production will be on display in '15. Teixeira has acknowledged that he's on the back nine of his career, and repeating his terrific 2009 numbers is probably out of the question. The Yanks would be happy just to have him in the lineup regularly, hitting for power and providing Gold Glove Award-caliber defense.

4. Will the "real" Beltran show up?

Remember the offseason of 2004-05? The Yankees were still reeling from watching the Red Sox reverse the curse when Beltran shook hands with George Steinbrenner in Tampa, Fla., telling The Boss he wanted to be a Yankee. Steinbrenner liked Beltran, but he wanted pitching (Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright) more. Besides, the Yanks already had Bernie Williams in center field.

So Beltran had an up-and-down marriage with the Mets and finally slugged his way to a World Series appearance with the Cardinals in 2013, setting up an opportunity to wear the pinstripes he coveted. The 37-year-old's body didn't cooperate with that nice storyline, and now the Yankees expect Beltran will return from right elbow surgery to be the everyday right fielder they envisioned. If not, the DH role will be crowded.

3. Time to have youthful "second" thoughts?

Headley's four-year, $52 million contract to play third base didn't only solidify A-Rod as a full-time DH going forward, it also freed Martin Prado from being the starting third baseman. Prado did play 17 games at second base for the Yanks in 2014 and looked sharp there, but the club chose to flip him to the Marlins in a five-player deal on Dec. 19.

Headley on re-signing with Yanks

Headley pleased to rejoin Yankees on four-year deal

Chase Headley discusses his new four-year contract with the Yankees and why he thinks the team will compete for the playoffs in 2015

That opens the door for a look at young prospects Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela, who are still in line to compete for roster spots during the spring. Both players performed well enough to be on the radar last year, and Pirela even got a cup of coffee in September. The Yankees want to give a good look to Refsnyder in particular, who posted a .300/.389/.456 split line last year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

2. How will Gregorius handle following Derek Jeter?

Gregorius said all the right things after his trade to the Yankees, mentioning how he'd always wanted to play in New York and watch Jeter play; now, he gets to follow in his footsteps and take over as the everyday shortstop. In Gregorius, the Yanks feel that they have a young (25) and athletic performer to solidify the middle of the infield, and Gregorius' defensive range up the middle should make the pitching staff happy.

There are legitimate questions about his bat, and though the Yanks believe there is more in the tank, they still plan to have Gregorius platoon with Brendan Ryan to begin the year. Gregorius has hit just .184 in 163 career at-bats vs. lefties, though he seems eager to take on that challenge in the future.

Girardi wants Didi to be himself

Girardi believes Gregorius will blossom in New York

Joe Girardi likes the addition of Didi Gregorius and hopes he plays his brand of baseball without worrying about replacing Derek Jeter

1. A-Rod is back -- now what?

The final out of the World Series reinstated Rodriguez to the active roster, and it's only a few short weeks before the satellite trucks park at the Himes Avenue Minor League complex in hopes of recording every practice grounder hit in Rodriguez's direction. With A-Rod coming off a season-long suspension, having played just 44 games in the last two years and turning 40 in July on a pair of repaired hips, Cashman said that the Yankees could get "every color on the rainbow" from the veteran.

There is no urgency to push him back into duty as an everyday third baseman because of the Headley signing, but it would be helpful if he's capable of backup duty there. Rodriguez and Girardi plan to talk about some first-base reps in the spring, but from the sounds of everything right now, the Yankees are fine with the idea of Rodriguez as their full-time designated hitter in 2015.

Girardi on Yankees' health

Girardi on health of rotation, A-Rod playing first

Joe Girardi discusses the health of his rotation, the possibility of Alex Rodriguez playing first base and the roles his relievers will have

Only a full spring will determine what to expect of Rodriguez's bat speed and health, but the Yanks have little doubt that he'll arrive in his best possible condition. That's never been an issue with him. Even in those last weeks of 2013, when Rodriguez was nowhere near his MVP-level production, he managed to post a .771 OPS in 156 at-bats. That's a number that would have been quite welcome in the '14 Yankees lineup.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Gossage still savors memory of Hall of Fame's call

"There had been some urgency when I first became eligible," Gossage said. "After I got out of baseball and people started to talk about the Hall of Fame, my mom said, 'I hope I'm still around if you do go into the Hall of Fame.'"

Susanne Gossage died two years prior to her son's 2008 induction in Cooperstown.

She'd been his strength ever since his father, Jack, passed away during Rich Gossage's junior year in high school.

"She was my biggest fan," he said, "and during those early years, there was some frustration.

"When she died there wasn't that sense of urgency. It was more about waiting for the opportunity. Baseball taught me not to worry about what I couldn't control. I didn't have a vote, so I had no control."

And when that call finally came?

"Well, the plan was to have a quiet day at home," he said. "But the next thing I know there's different people who want to be there for the event, and if I say yes to one [media member], I'm not going to say no to another.

"It was funny, though. Everybody is sitting there, waiting for the phone to ring, and it doesn't. Then it would ring and it would be a friend, wanting to find out if I had heard anything. It turned out the announcement was delayed because Jane [Forbes Clark, Hall of Fame chairwoman] had flight problems and so the calls weren't made until an hour later [than planned]."

The call, however, did come.

"I almost passed out," he said.

And the celebration began.

"Some people would say it should have happened years earlier, but I just tell them, 'The longer you wait, the sweeter the moment.'"

Gossage understood the challenge he faced in being elected. He was a reliever from that era of bullpen transition, when teams started to focus on having a "closer" but the role was not as cut-and-dried as it is today.

"Now you have these guys like Mariano [Rivera] and Trevor [Hoffman], who are so dominant in the one-inning role and build up the save totals," said Gossage. "People forget how we used to do it. That was something the newer [Hall of Fame voters] had to understand."

Video: Gossage always closed the door

Gossage is 22nd on the all-time saves list with 310. Rivera is the all-time leader with 652. There is, however, a major difference in terms of the workload. Gossage, who was fourth on the all-time list at the time of his retirement, pitched two or more innings in 125 of his saves, including 24 times when he went three or more innings. Rivera worked two innings or more in 10 saves -- a career-longest 2 1/3-inning effort against the A's on Aug. 23, 1996, and two innings nine other times.

"That's not to say we were stronger or better when I pitched, but just pointing out how the role of the closer has changed over time," said Gossage. "Face it. Hitters, pitchers, the old numbers have been blown out of the water. Look at saves, look at home runs."

Prior to the American League addition of the designated hitter in 1973, there were only 33 players who had hit 300 career home runs or more. Today, there are 137 in the history of the game.

Gossage spent 22 seasons in the big leagues, playing for nine teams, tied for the second most of any Hall of Famer with Deacon White and Hoyt Wilhelm, two fewer teams than Dan Brouthers.

Seven of those seasons were spent with the Yankees, the most of any team.

And that, said Gossage, was special because "the Yankees were my dad's favorite team. It went back to living in Colorado. The Yankees were affiliated with the Denver Bears, so that brought them closer to him.

Video: Goose's Hall of Fame Speech

"And then I got a chance to become friends with my dad's idols. I remember getting to know Clete Boyer. I told him, 'You were my dad's favorite player.' He looked at me and said, 'You mean Kenny.' I told him, 'No, not your brother, you. You were the Yankee. He loved the Yankees and he loved your defense and the way you played the game.'"

And Gossage knows his dad would have loved getting to go to Cooperstown for the induction ceremonies.

"Going there is like being a 10-year-old kid going to Disneyland and never having to go home," he said. "To be inducted is something you can't comprehend. It is beyond your wildest dream."

It, however, was a dream his father shared with him when Gossage was growing up.

"He'd tell me, 'You are going to play in the big leagues someday,'" said Gossage. "He'd start talking about Mickey Mantle. I thought those guys were cartoon characters. It was beyond belief for me."

And now look at Gossage.

He's sharing a spot in Cooperstown with Mantle and the rest of the Hall of Famers.

Tracy Ringolsby is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yankees bring in 2 bullpen arms for Banuelos

NEW YORK -- The Yankees kicked off the new year with a transaction, acquiring right-hander David Carpenter and left-hander Chasen Shreve from the Braves in exchange for left-hander Manny Banuelos, who was once regarded as one of the team's brightest prospects.

It is a move that promises to bolster an ever-changing Yankees bullpen, with Carpenter projected to slide into a setup role in front of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, who are expected to compete this spring for the closer's role.

In effect, Carpenter could replace right-hander Shawn Kelley, who was traded to the Padres on Monday for Minor League pitcher Johnny Barbato. Shreve offers another lefty option to compete for a roster spot in the spring, joining a group that includes Justin Wilson, Jacob Lindgren and Tyler Webb.

Carpenter strikes out the side

CHC@ATL: Carpenter strikes out side in 8th inning

5/10/14: David Carpenter enters in relief in the top of the 8th inning and strikes out all three Cubs he faces in a dominant appearance

Carpenter, 29, was 6-4 with a 3.54 ERA in 65 appearances for Atlanta last season, finishing 14 games and recording three saves. In 61 innings, Carpenter permitted 61 hits while issuing 16 walks and recording 67 strikeouts, and is arbitration-eligible for the first time.

The 24-year-old Shreve got his first taste of big league action last July, sporting a 0.73 ERA in 15 appearances with Atlanta. He started the year at Double-A Mississippi and also pitched at Triple-A Gwinnett, going a combined 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA and nine saves in 46 appearances.

Shreve's first career strikeout

PHI@ATL: Shreve fans Howard in Major League debut

7/19/14: Making his Major League debut, Chasen Shreve gets Ryan Howard to go down on strikes

Banuelos, who turns 24 in March, was touted alongside Betances and former prospect Andrew Brackman as the Yankees' "Killer B" group of pitching talent, but his trajectory was derailed by Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2013 season.

Last year, Banuelos returned to the mound and was 2-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) for Class A Advanced Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Making the majority of those appearances at the Double-A level, Banuelos struck out 71 and walked 31 in 76 2/3 innings.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yankees send RHP Kelley to Padres for RHP Barbato

In 31 1/3 innings, Barbato permitted 26 hits while allowing 10 walks and striking out 33. He has a career ERA of 3.79 over four Minor League campaigns, and scouts have projected the hard-throwing hurler as a future big league setup man.

Kelley, who turns 31 in April, was 3-6 with a 4.53 ERA in a career-high 59 appearances this past season for New York, racking up 11.67 strikeouts per nine innings (67 K's in 51 2/3 innings). He has averaged 11.83 strikeouts per nine innings over the last two seasons.

"I'm excited," Kelley said in a telephone interview. "I loved everything about going to New York, I loved the team and the coaches and the front office and the trainers, just everything about it. But it's baseball, things like this happen. I'm sad to go, but I'm also excited for where I'm going."

Kelley is arbitration-eligible for the third time after earning $1.765 million in 2014. He has compiled a 3.94 ERA in 236 big league games with the Mariners (2009-12) and Yankees (2013-14), and projects to slot as a setup man for San Diego closer Joaquin Benoit.

"I told [Padres general manager] A.J. [Preller] that I just made the comment to a friend the other day, 'Wow, the Padres are picking up everybody. They're going to be really good this year,'" Kelley said. "A few days later, here I am, one of them."

On a personal level, Kelley said that he was thrilled to briefly serve as the Yankees' interim closer this past season while David Robertson was on the disabled list, recording his first four career saves. Reflecting on his two seasons in New York, Kelley said nothing topped the farewells for Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter.

"Watching Mariano go out the way that he did and watching Derek go out the way he did, more than anything I've done personally, those two experiences are two that I'll never forget," Kelley said. "They're definitely two highlights of my career.

"It stinks we didn't make the playoffs, but if you had to be with the Yankees and not make the playoffs for two seasons, I think those would be the two that you'd want to be a part of. Those were really special moments for me and I'm glad I got to share it with those two guys."

The Yankees will have a remodeled bullpen in 2015, with Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller among those poised to take over the closer's role from Robertson, who signed a four-year contract with the White Sox.

Among their other bullpen moves this offseason, the Yanks have acquired left-hander Justin Wilson from the Pirates, re-signed right-hander Esmil Rogers, signed left-hander Jose De Paula and executed a rare crosstown deal with the Mets to acquire right-hander Gonzalez Germen.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Nittany Lions roar past BC to take Pinstripe Bowl in overtime

The Nittany Lions trailed for most of Saturday's second half, but Ficken stepped up to help them earn their first bowl win since 2010. Ficken forced overtime with a 45-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and then he kicked the decisive extra point to give Penn State the victory.

Penn State (7-6) hadn't played in a bowl since the 2011 season due to NCAA sanctions, and Ficken's kick touched off a raucous celebration on the sideline. This was the first sellout and the first overtime game in the five-year history of the Pinstripe Bowl, and Penn State's fans turned out in droves.

"It was a football stadium tonight. An awesome one," said Penn State coach James Franklin of Yankee Stadium, which gave him the third bowl victory of his head coaching career. "And we loved it."

Boston College (7-6) led 21-14 after the end of the third quarter, but the taut nature of the game was well reflected in the statistics. The two teams were separated by one yard -- 287 for BC and 286 for Penn State -- at that point of the game, and time of possession was skewed by just 12 seconds.

Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who was named the game's Most Valuable Player, led his team on a tying touchdown drive midway through the final quarter. And then, after Boston College pushed ahead on a field goal, Hackenberg engineered a tying drive in under two minutes.

But the game still had plenty of life. Boston College went ahead on a 21-yard pass from Tyler Murphy to David Dudeck in overtime, but kicker Mike Knoll left the door open by missing the extra point. Penn State came right back with a Hackenberg throw to Kyle Carter and Ficken iced the game.

"As I told the team in there, there's a lot of plays all over the place. We had a lot of chances for interceptions that we let get away from us," said Boston College coach Steve Addazio of the end result. "I'm sure there's missed blocks here, penalties all over the place. When you lose a game in overtime like that, the obvious thing to look at is the way we lost it. The bitter end. There will be plays along the way that could've changed the game. You can drive yourself absolutely insane."

Boston College made some program history in the loss: Murphy (105) and tailback Jon Hilliman (148) became the first BC teammates to rush for 100 yards in a bowl game. The Eagles rushed for 285 yards against the nation's top rushing defense, but Murphy only threw for 97 yards in the loss.

Franklin, working through his first year at Penn State after a previous tenure at Vanderbilt, deflected any and all praise that came his way Saturday. He made sure to credit his players and the ultra-loyal fanbase at Penn State for persevering through the tough times and making their way back.

"It has very little to do with James Franklin," he said after his team's momentous win. "It has to do with all the former players, the current players, the assistant coaches. The trainers, the doctors, the video [staff]. It has to do with our fans that show up and sell out every single game. We're all a part of this. I think we've been fractured. ... But I think experiences and games like this have restored the hope."

The game's first half didn't produce much in the way of scoring. Penn State pushed ahead for the first time on a 72-yard touchdown throw from Hackenberg to true freshman Chris Godwin. Godwin beat his man, and Hackenberg hit him in stride up the right sideline for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

That drive took just 1:01 for Penn State, but Boston College didn't waste much time in responding. Hilliman went for 52 yards on two plays -- a three-yard run and a 49-yard touchdown off tackle -- to give the Eagles a 44-second scoring drive. Neither team would score again before the half.

Murphy would lead the Eagles to a sizable cushion in the third quarter, thanks to a lengthy drive capped by a 19-yard throw to Shakim Phillips. Later in the quarter -- after Hackenberg fumbled a snap -- Murphy put BC up two touchdowns by taking an option play 40 yards to the end zone.

"Tyler has done a great job," Addazio said of his quarterback, who transferred to BC from the University of Florida. "He's been a tremendous addition to our program. He provided stability. He provided experience. He provided leadership. He's an A-1-A terrific character guy.

"He had a great, valiant effort today. I'm proud of what he accomplished, and I'm happy for him that he's able to have the kind of senior year that he'd always dreamed of having."

Hackenberg, a sophomore, just wouldn't let Murphy steal the show. The native of Lehighton, Pa., got the ball with 2:04 left in the third quarter and quickly led Penn State on a scoring drive. The youngster went 3-for-4, hitting Geno Lewis for a 32-yard catch and then a seven-yard touchdown.

Penn State came back for more in the fourth quarter, and Akeel Lynch put them on the 1-yard-line with a 35-yard run. The Nittany Lions nearly wasted that run with a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, but Hackenberg found DaeSean Hamilton for a 16-yard touchdown on the very next play.

Hackenberg -- who threw 50 times for 371 yards and four touchdowns -- came back for more in the final two minutes. The 19-year-old completed five straight passes to take Penn State from its 24 to the BC 35-yard-line, and three plays later, Ficken tied the game on a field goal with 20 seconds left.

"Every day, I came in and just worked as hard as I could to become a better play," said Hackenberg of his season. "I wanted to be the best teammate I can be and push these guys to take their game to the next level. I think that's a big role as a quarterback, especially at Penn State. You need to be able to elevate everyone else's play when need be, and I think we were able to do that today."

The Pinstripe Bowl has now had four different champions in five seasons of play. Syracuse is the only team to win twice, and Notre Dame, Rutgers and Penn State are the bowl's other champions. Last year's game is the only other one to draw 40,000-plus fans.

For Franklin -- who won two bowl games in three seasons at Vanderbilt -- the Pinstripe Bowl was a landmark for a few reasons. It gave Penn State its first bowl victory since 2010 and a winning record in his inaugural campaign, and it also showed him that his team can rebound from adversity.

"Early in the game when we had the ball in the strike zone, we had penalties or turnovers," he said. "I think we could've got a few more points on the board. It would've made it a little less crazy at the end. Again, we're trying to help the Big Ten out, ESPN, to get the ratings up. That's why we did it that way."

Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Class for the ages received Hall call in 2014

The Hall is expected to immortalize another impressive group of players this upcoming summer, but this most recent induction class currently ranks as one of the finest assembled since Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson became the Hall's first inhabitants in 1936.

Thomas is inducted into HOF

Thomas is inducted into the Hall of Fame

Frank Thomas caps his 19-year Major League career with his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

"It's obviously the biggest honor you can give to a ballplayer," Maddux said during his induction speech. "To put me here in Cooperstown with all of my childhood heroes, it's sort of hard to believe I'm standing here today. I never gave a thought to the Hall of Fame as I was going through my career."

As each of these individuals shared baseball's greatest honor during their first year of eligibility, they expressed the mutual admiration that developed as they competed with and against each other during their respective careers.

Though Thomas, who enjoyed his finest years with the White Sox, did not have a direct link to any of the Hall's other most recent enshrines, he is a south Georgia native who grew up rooting for Braves clubs that were managed by Cox and Torre. Cox's first managerial stint in Atlanta preceded Torre's and created the relationship that brought him back to the Braves for a historic tenure significantly influenced by the presence of Maddux and Glavine, who were part of the same rotation for 10 seasons (1993-2002).

"To Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and I have to mention the third member of the Big Three, John Smoltz, I can honestly say I would not be standing here today if it weren't for you guys," Cox said while standing on the same stage that he hopes will have a spot for Smoltz during next summer's ceremony.

With Maddux, Glavine and Cox all present, the induction weekend provided Braves fans another chance to celebrate the glorious 1990s, which might have been even more special had Torre's Yankees not proven victorious in two of the five World Series Atlanta participated in during that decade.

Braves on Hall of Fame honor

Braves inductees discuss Hall of Fame honor

Bobby Cox, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine talk about how special it is to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as members of the same class

While Torre will be forever remembered for the four World Series titles the Yankees captured under his guidance, La Russa guided the A's to a world championship in 1989 and then proved victorious in two more Fall Classics while serving as St. Louis' skipper.

As they established themselves as three of the five managers in baseball history who have won at least 2,300 games, La Russa, Cox and Torre were fierce competitors who did not do much fraternizing. But as they spent this special weekend together in Cooperstown, it was obvious that they had the utmost respect for each other.

"It was just perfect," Torre said of being inducted alongside Cox and La Russa. "Our careers just mirrored each other's. I think it would have been an injustice if we didn't enjoy this together."

In a perfect world, Smoltz would have shared been enshrined alongside Cox and his two long-time Atlanta rotation mates. But there was still something magical about watching Maddux and Glavine stand side-by-side reminiscing about their time together in Atlanta and the eight-year stretch (1991-1998) during which they accounted for six National League Cy Young Awards.

"I think the odds of hitting the lottery would be better than this ever happening again," Cox said of being inducted alongside two of his players. "It's pretty darn special. I like the way [the Hall of Fame] laid it out. I got to [speak] between Greg and Tommy, which I thought was really neat."

La Russa's wit was on display as he thanked the White Sox, A's and Cardinals for the opportunity to manage their clubs. He reminisced about how former White Sox player personnel director Paul Richards gave him his first Minor League managerial gig and then touted him using the premise that the "worst players make the best managers."

Selig dictates La Russa's plaque

Selig recites La Russa's Hall of Fame plaque text

Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig reads the text from Tony La Russa's Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown

"I thought, 'It always hurts to hear the truth,'" La Russa said. "Then [Richards] watched me manage four or five games. He comes in and says, 'I think you may have been a better player than I thought you were.'"

Thomas's physically imposing figure and disciplined approach made him one of the most feared hitters of his generation. But as he thanked his parents and 138 of his former teammates during his induction speech, he wiped tears from his face and displayed his genuine appreciation for being part of this cherished event.

"I was so overcome with emotion," Thomas said. "I'm sorry about it, but I'm not sorry about it, because it is what I am, and I'm proud to be here with these great legends."

Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Pinstripe Bowl records its first sellout in fifth year

NEW YORK -- The fifth edition of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium was its first sellout.

Penn State defeated Boston College, 31-30 in overtime, in front of 49,012 fans in New York on Saturday, breaking last year's attendance record of 47,122 for the contest between Notre Dame and Rutgers.

"This is the most successful New Era Pinstripe Bowl, and that's a tribute to the two sensational universities, great universities," said Yankees president Randy Levine. "Boston College and Penn State -- we're so honored to have their presidents here, we're so honored to have the athletic directors and everybody from those universities."

The matchup between Boston College (7-6) and Penn State (7-6) was the first Pinstripe Bowl meeting between the ACC and the Big Ten, the game's two conference tie-ins.

It was also the first time either of the two teams have played at the new Yankee Stadium, which Penn State coach James Franklin said was in top form Saturday.

"It was a football stadium tonight," Franklin answered when asked what it was like to play in a baseball stadium. "An awesome one, and we loved it."

Penn State tied the game late in regulation with a field goal and won it in overtime on an extra point. The Nittany Lions now lead the all-time series, 20-4, snapping a three-game Boston College winning streak.

"We had an unbelievable experience [at the Pinstripe Bowl]," Franklin said. "I've been a part of a lot of bowls. This was first class. The players had a great experience, so did the coaching staff. New York was an unbelievable host. [We're] very thankful and appreciative of that."

AJ Cassavell is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajcassavell. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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