Gossage heads Hall class

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- As a kid, Rich Gossage’s dreams never matched those of his father.

“My dad always said, ‘You’re going to play in the big leagues some day,’ ” Gossage recalled. “I pooh-poohed that. I would be like, ‘Aw, dad, please don’t say that.’ And sure enough, here I am.”

Gossage became a dominant relief pitcher in a 22-year career that will receive its finishing touch today when he is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

For Gossage, what has transpired since those talks with his dad, Jake, is simply mind-boggling.

“I can’t even really comprehend my career,” said Gossage, elected on his ninth try.

Gossage will be enshrined with Dick Williams, one of his former managers, the late Larry Whiteside, a pioneering black journalist who will receive the J.G. Taylor Spink Award, and Ford C. Frick Award winner Dave Niehaus. Former Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley, former Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss, former commissioner Bowie Kuhn and former manager Billy Southworth, all deceased, will also be inducted.