Eric Gagne

Lore & Background

Gagné grew up in Mascouche, Quebec, and attended Seminole Junior College in Oklahoma. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1994 but signed with the Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1995. He made his MLB debut on September 7, 1999, starting against the Florida Marlins. Converted to a closer in 2002, he became the National League's leading reliever and was elected to his first All-Star Game that year. In 2003 he converted all 55 save opportunities, tying the NL record, and won the Cy Young Award. His 84 consecutive save streak ended on July 5, 2004. He underwent multiple surgeries (elbow and back) and played for the Texas Rangers in 2007, Boston Red Sox in 2007, and Milwaukee Brewers in 2008.

In Their Own Story

The July sun was already a white disc hanging over the outfield wall when the count went 1-1. Gagne stood in the left-handed box, hands loose on the bat, eyes tracking the pitcher's release like a hawk tracking a field mouse. The fastball came in just inside, and he didn't swing—not yet. He let the next one sit, a curve that dipped just enough, and he lifted it softly into the gap between short and second. Then the legs came. The first step was almost a stutter, and then it wasn't. He was a blur in the white uniform, sliding into first with his toe barely kissing the bag, head already turning to watch the ball die in the second baseman's glove. The Marlins dugout didn't erupt. They just nodded. One run. One more reason the score was 2-1 and the game was still theirs. In the stands, a kid in a faded 2003 Marlins cap was already on his feet, pointing at the empty base path, yelling something his dad couldn't quite make out over the crowd noise. Gagne jogged back to the dugout, already thinking about the next pitch, the next base, the next small, electric moment that made a Tuesday night in Miami feel like it mattered.

Reader's Guide

Gagné was a relief pitcher, primarily a closer. He entered games in the eighth or ninth inning with the Dodgers in the lead, accompanied by the song 'Welcome to the Jungle' and the scoreboard flashing 'Game Over'. His signature pitch was a fastball; he struck out 55% of batters he retired in 2003. He is the only pitcher to win the Cy Young Award with a losing record (2–3 in 2003).

Did You Know?

• Gagné is one of only two Canadian pitchers to win the Cy Young Award, the other being Ferguson Jenkins.
• He learned English by watching the sitcom Kenan and Kel while in college.
• Gagné's father Richard coached his Little League teams.
• He was a fan of the Montreal Expos and Montreal Canadiens as a child.