Jim Gott was a professional baseball player who played as a pitcher for several teams during his career. He was born on August 3, 1959, in Hollywood, California, and attended the University of California, San Diego, where he played college baseball.
Gott was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth round of the 1977 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut with the Cardinals in 1982 and played for them until 1984. He then played for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1985 to 1988, the San Francisco Giants from 1989 to 1990, the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1991 to 1992, and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1993 to 1995.
Gott was known for his fastball, which he could throw up to 95 miles per hour. He was also a reliable relief pitcher, often coming in to close out games. In his career, he recorded 91 saves and a 3.87 earned run average (ERA).
One of Gott's most memorable moments came in the 1986 American League Championship Series, when he was pitching for the Blue Jays. In Game 3, he came in to relieve starter Doyle Alexander in the ninth inning with the Blue Jays leading the series 2-0. The game was tied 5-5, and the California Angels had the bases loaded with two outs. Gott struck out Angels outfielder Gary Pettis to end the inning and preserve the tie. The Blue Jays went on to win the game in the 11th inning and eventually won the series.
Gott retired from baseball after the 1995 season. After his playing career, he became a pitching coach for several minor league teams and served as the bullpen coach for the Los Angeles Angels from 2010 to 2012. He also worked as a broadcaster for the Angels and the San Diego Padres.
Overall, Jim Gott had a successful career as a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was known for his fastball and his ability to close out games, and he played for several teams during his career. His most memorable moment came in the 1986 American League Championship Series, when he struck out Gary Pettis to preserve a tie and help the Blue Jays win the game.
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