Mariano Rivera beat Goose Gossage strikeout record in 1996

From Joel Sherman: "Rivera went 8-3 with a 2.09 ERA (regular season), held opponents to a .193 batting average,

• and broke Goose Gossage's Yankee relief record of
• 122 strikeouts by fanning
• 130 in 107.2 innings.

Most amazingly, of the record 4,962 homers spanked in 1996, Rivera allowed just one,

• to Baltimore's Rafael Palmeiro on June 28."...

Page 208 from Joel Sherman's book, "Birth of a Dynasty," about the 1996 Yankees, published in 2006 by Rodale.

• 1996 Rivera Multi-Inning appearances, Regular Season only

• 3IP
• 8 games
• 2.2IP
• 2 games
• 2.1IP
• 3 games
• 2.0IP
• 22 games
• 1.2IP
• 3 games
• 1.1IP
• 3 games
• Multi inning appearances, 41
• With runners on base, 15

• Along with 8 wins and 5 saves

After that, Rivera pitched 14.1IP in the post season including 3 days in a row in the World Series.

• I wouldn't bring it up but Gossage frequently says he's worlds apart from 'modern' relievers in terms of IP per game, that they have it easy. There are other important stats in the game, but Rivera's 1996 regular season had many multi-inning appearances, including beating Gossage's strikeout record. No time to rest, Rivera continued into the post season for 8 games and 14.1more IP.

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