# Jim Gott > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jim_Gott > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jim_Gott.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Gott > Source revision: 1342847503 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American baseball player and coach (born 1959)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Jim Gott |image=Philadelphia Phillies bullpen (44777674302) (cropped).jpg |caption=Gott with the [Philadelphia Phillies](/source/Philadelphia_Phillies) in 2018 |position=[Pitcher](/source/Pitcher) |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1959|8|3}} |birth_place=[Hollywood, California](/source/Hollywood%2C_California), U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=April 9 |debutyear=1982 |debutteam=Toronto Blue Jays |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=August 3 |finalyear=1995 |finalteam=Pittsburgh Pirates |statleague = MLB |stat1label=[Win–loss record](/source/Win%E2%80%93loss_record_(pitching)) |stat1value=56–74 |stat2label=[Earned run average](/source/Earned_run_average) |stat2value=3.87 |stat3label=[Strikeout](/source/Strikeout)s |stat3value=837 |stat4label=[Saves](/source/Save_(baseball)) |stat4value=91 |teams= *[Toronto Blue Jays](/source/Toronto_Blue_Jays) ({{mlby|1982}}–{{mlby|1984}}) *[San Francisco Giants](/source/San_Francisco_Giants) ({{mlby|1985}}–{{mlby|1987}}) *[Pittsburgh Pirates](/source/Pittsburgh_Pirates) ({{mlby|1987}}–{{mlby|1989}}) *[Los Angeles Dodgers](/source/Los_Angeles_Dodgers) ({{mlby|1990}}–{{mlby|1994}}) *[Pittsburgh Pirates](/source/Pittsburgh_Pirates) ({{mlby|1995}}) }} '''James William Gott''' (born August 3, 1959) is an American professional [baseball](/source/baseball) [pitcher](/source/pitcher) and [coach](/source/coach_(baseball)). Gott pitched in [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) (MLB) for 14 years for the [Toronto Blue Jays](/source/Toronto_Blue_Jays), [San Francisco Giants](/source/San_Francisco_Giants), [Pittsburgh Pirates](/source/Pittsburgh_Pirates), and [Los Angeles Dodgers](/source/Los_Angeles_Dodgers), from 1982 to 1995. He was the bullpen coach for the [Philadelphia Phillies](/source/Philadelphia_Phillies) from 2018 through 2020. ==Career== ===Playing career=== Gott was born in [Hollywood, California](/source/Hollywood%2C_California). He graduated from [San Marino High School](/source/San_Marino_High_School) in [San Marino, California](/source/San_Marino%2C_California), in 1977.{{cite web|url=https://sanmarinotribune.com/changing-colors-san-marino-native-jim-gott-returns-to-the-major-leagues-as-bullpen-coach/ |title=Changing Colors: San Marino Native Jim Gott Returns to the Major Leagues as Bullpen Coach |publisher=San Marino Tribune |access-date=January 5, 2018}} In baseball, he was named his league's [most valuable player](/source/most_valuable_player) that year. He committed to attend [Brigham Young University](/source/Brigham_Young_University) (BYU) on a [college football](/source/college_football) scholarship as a [linebacker](/source/linebacker), and was also recruited for the school's baseball team. The [St. Louis Cardinals](/source/St._Louis_Cardinals) selected Gott in the fourth round of the [1977 Major League Baseball draft](/source/1977_Major_League_Baseball_draft).{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-07-sp-118-story.html |title=A Prodigal Son Returns a Man: Baseball: Dodgers' Gott had all of the advantages as a child in San Marino. Now he helps others find themselves. - latimes |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=August 7, 1990 |access-date=January 5, 2018}} He signed with the Cardinals for a $18,500 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|18500|1977|r=-3}}}} in current dollar terms) [signing bonus](/source/signing_bonus), rather than follow through with his commitment to attend BYU.{{cite web|last=Benson |first=Lee |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/181450/GOTT-SAYS-DODGERS-MUST-FOCUS-ON-WHAT-THEY-DONT-NEED-TO-DO.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104073200/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/181450/GOTT-SAYS-DODGERS-MUST-FOCUS-ON-WHAT-THEY-DONT-NEED-TO-DO.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 4, 2018 |title=Gott Says Dodgers Must Focus On What They Don'T Need To Do |publisher=Deseret News |date=September 1, 1991 |access-date=January 5, 2018}} He began his professional career with the [Calgary Cardinals](/source/Calgary_Cardinals) of the [Rookie-level](/source/Rookie-level) [Pioneer League](/source/Pioneer_League_(baseball)). Gott was the first pick in the [Rule 5 draft](/source/Rule_5_draft) by the [Toronto Blue Jays](/source/Toronto_Blue_Jays) in December 1981. In his minor league career, he was 28-42 with one save and a 4.71 ERA, in 626.2 innings over 131 games (104 of which were starts).[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gott--001jam Jim Gott Minor Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com] He made his major league debut in 1982. Gott's first major league win was against Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher [Jim Palmer](/source/Jim_Palmer) of the [Baltimore Orioles](/source/Baltimore_Orioles) in May 1982. Gott's first major league win was a 6–0 decision over the [Baltimore Orioles](/source/Baltimore_Orioles) at [Memorial Stadium](/source/Memorial_Stadium_(Baltimore)) on May 30, 1982 which was also the start of [Cal Ripken Jr.](/source/Cal_Ripken_Jr.)'s [MLB-record consecutive games played streak](/source/Major_League_Baseball_consecutive_games_played_streaks).[https://pressboxonline.com/2020/09/02/former-pitcher-jim-gott-reflects-on-his-role-in-cal-ripken-jr-s-streak/ Clark, Glenn. "Former Pitcher Jim Gott Reflects On His Role In Cal Ripken Jr.’s Streak," ''PressBox'' (Baltimore, MD), Wednesday, September 2, 2020.] Retrieved May 30, 2021 In 1983, he was fifth in the American League in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched (6.164).[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gottji01.shtml Jim Gott Stats | Baseball-Reference.com] In January 1985, the Blue Jays traded Gott along with two minor league players to the [San Francisco Giants](/source/San_Francisco_Giants) for [Gary Lavelle](/source/Gary_Lavelle).{{cite web|author=AP |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/27/sports/blue-jays-get-lavelle.html |title=Blue Jays Get Lavelle |work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) |date=January 27, 1985 |access-date=January 5, 2018}} On May 12, 1985, Gott hit two home runs against the [St. Louis Cardinals](/source/St._Louis_Cardinals).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198505120.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants Box Score, May 12, 1985 }} The [Pittsburgh Pirates](/source/Pittsburgh_Pirates) claimed Gott off of [waivers](/source/waivers_(baseball)) in 1987. In 1988, Gott broke [Kent Tekulve](/source/Kent_Tekulve)'s franchise single-season save record of 32 saves, ending the season with 34 saves (2nd in the NL).{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-09-23/sports/8802240435_1_jim-gott-ray-miller-scott-mcgregor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108063839/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-09-23/sports/8802240435_1_jim-gott-ray-miller-scott-mcgregor|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2018|title=Consistency Makes Gott's Closing Act A Success}}{{cite web|url=http://973espn.com/phillies-name-jim-gott-to-coaching-staff/|title=Phillies Add Jim Gott to Coaching Staff|website=97.3 ESPN|date=November 18, 2017 }} He was also 7th in the National League in games played (67). He had elbow surgery in May 1989, and missed most of the 1989 season. The [Los Angeles Dodgers](/source/Los_Angeles_Dodgers) signed Gott as a [free agent](/source/free_agent) after the 1989 season for $300,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|300000|1989|r=-3}}}} in current dollar terms).{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-08-sp-118-story.html |title=Dodgers Go for Relief, Take Gamble on Jim Gott - latimes |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=December 8, 1989 |access-date=January 5, 2018}} Gott was a setup pitcher and closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1990 to 1994. In 1993, he was 9th in the National League in saves (25). In his 14-year major league career, Gott was 56-74 with 91 saves and a 3.87 ERA in 1,120 innings over 554 games (96 of which were starts). ===Radio hosting career=== After retiring as an active player, Gott co-hosted ''Dodger Talk'', a pre- and post-game radio show for the Dodgers for three years. ===Coaching career=== In 2010, the [Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim](/source/Los_Angeles_Angels_of_Anaheim) hired Gott as their [pitching coach](/source/coach_(baseball)) for the [Arizona League Angels](/source/Arizona_League_Angels) of the Rookie-level [Arizona League](/source/Arizona_League). On November 9, 2012, Gott was promoted to the Angels' minor league pitching coordinator.{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-angels-hire-hampton-bogar-20121109,0,2459319.story?track=rss |title=Angels hire Mike Hampton, Tim Bogar for minor league roles |work=Los Angeles Times |first=Mike |last=DiGiovanna |date=November 9, 2012}} Gott served in that role through 2017. On November 17, 2017, the [Philadelphia Phillies](/source/Philadelphia_Phillies) named Gott their bullpen coach for the 2018 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/phillies-hire-bullpen-coach-jim-gott-gabe-kapler-staff-20171117.html |title=Phillies hire Jim Gott for bullpen coach as staff slowly forms |publisher=Philly.com |date=November 17, 2017 |access-date=January 5, 2018}} He remained with the club through the 2020 season, after which time his contract was not renewed.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/phillies-hire-caleb-cotham-new-pitching-coach-reds |title=Phillies hire 33-year-old pitching coach who has chemistry with Girardi |publisher=nbcsports.com |date=November 20, 2020|access-date=May 16, 2021}} Gott was named pitching coach for the [AZL Athletics](/source/AZL_Athletics) for the 2024 season.{{Cite web |title=A's announce player development staff for 2024 |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-a-s-announce-player-development-staff-for-2024 |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} In 2025, Gott was named pitching coach of the [Stockton Ports](/source/Stockton_Ports) the Single-A affiliate of the [Athletics](/source/Athletics_(baseball)). ==Personal life== Gott's brother, Erich, attended BYU on a scholarship for golf. He resides in [San Marino, California](/source/San_Marino%2C_California). He has six children, two of whom are [autistic](/source/autism).{{cite book|last=Firestone|first=Barbara |year=2007|title=Autism Heroes: Portraits of Families Meeting the Challenge|pages=70–74|publisher=[Jessica Kingsley Publishers](/source/Jessica_Kingsley_Publishers)|isbn=978-1-84310-837-5|access-date=November 29, 2008|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nL9SCiA_Vc8C&q=autism+heroes+Jim+Gott&pg=PA70}} Gott taught [Dennis Quaid](/source/Dennis_Quaid) to pitch for his portrayal of [Jim Morris](/source/Jim_Morris) in the 2002 film ''[The Rookie](/source/The_Rookie_(2002_film))''.{{cite web | title=Dennis Quaid Interview-The Rookie Movie | url=http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/aa032102a.htm | access-date=November 13, 2009 | archive-date=September 12, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912021321/http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/aa032102a.htm | url-status=dead }} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Baseballstats|retro=G/Pgottj001|espn=1221|mlb=114992|br=g/gottji01|fangraphs=1004898|brm=gott--001jam}} {{s-start}} {{succession box | before = [Mark Bomback](/source/Mark_Bomback_(baseball)) | title = [Toronto Blue Jays](/source/Toronto_Blue_Jays) [Opening Day](/source/Opening_Day)
[Starting pitcher](/source/Starting_pitcher)| years = 1983 | after = [Doyle Alexander](/source/Doyle_Alexander)}} {{s-end}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Gott, Jim}} Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada Category:Arkansas Travelers players Category:Bakersfield Dodgers players Category:Baseball coaches from California Category:Baseball players from Los Angeles County, California Category:Brigham Young University alumni Category:BYU Cougars baseball players Category:BYU Cougars football players Category:Calgary Cardinals players Category:Cardenales de Lara players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Category:Gastonia Cardinals players Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players Category:Major League Baseball bullpen coaches Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Minor league baseball coaches Category:People from San Marino, California Category:Philadelphia Phillies coaches Category:Phoenix Firebirds players Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players Category:San Francisco Giants players Category:Sportspeople from Hollywood, Los Angeles Category:St. Petersburg Cardinals players Category:Toronto Blue Jays players Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:Latter Day Saints from California --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jim Gott](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Gott) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Gott?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.