Don Gullett was a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds during their 1970s dynasty, winning two World Series before spending 16 years with the team as a coach.
- Died: February 14, 2024 (Who else died on February 14?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 73.
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Don Gullett’s legacy
Gullett’s sports greatness was apparent in high school. He was all-state in three sports and once threw a perfect game, striking out 20 of the 21 batters he faced. At just 19 years old, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds and quickly promoted to the majors, pitching in his first postseason games while still a teenager.
Gullett became a mainstay of the Reds dynasty of the 1970s, going to the World Series in 1970 and 1972 (losing to the Orioles and Athletic, respectively), then winning two World Series with the Reds in 1975 and 1976. Afterward, Gullett signed with the New York Yankees as a free agent, the team he had just helped beat in the previous season. He was with the Yankees when they won both the 1977 and 1978 World Series, although injuries severely limited his playing time in the latter.
After being with four straight World Series-winning teams, a shoulder injury cut Gullett’s playing career short. He returned to the Reds in the 1990s as a coach, spending 13 years with them as a bullpen and pitching coach, and 16 years with the organization overall. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2002.
Tributes to Don Gullett
Full obituary: Cincinnati Enquirer
