D2 Baseball has had many players go on to win major awards in the Major Leagues with handfuls of Rookie of The Year and Cy Young awards to put on the trophy shelf.
But when honoring the pitchers — specifically relievers — the list of players shrinks to just two who both pitched in the 70s and 80s.
Do you know who these former D2 greats are? Find out below and make sure to spread your new baseball knowledge around to impress your fellow baseball fanatics.
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D2 Award Winners: MVP | Cy Young | Rookie of The Year
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Rich "Goose" Gossage — CSU-Pueblo
| Year | W-L | SV | ERA | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 10-11 | 27 | 2.01 | 3.00 |
| Career Totals | 124-107 | 310 | 3.01 | 3.18 |
Goose Gossage is one of the best characters in baseball history, finishing his career with starter-like numbers when it comes to career win-loss record.
One of just 28 players to ever record more than 300 saves – Craig Kimbrel will be the 29th – the former Yankees star won his only Relief Award in 1978 following a year in which he established new career highs in saves, games finished, and finished fifth in the Cy Young voting.
Enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2008, the former Thunderwolves player finished in the top three of league saves in six seasons and will be known forever as one of the best to ever come in at the end of contests.
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Steve Bedrosian — New Haven
| Year | W-L | SV | ERA | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 5-3 | 40 | 2.83 | 3.79 |
| Career Totals | 76-79 | 184 | 3.38 | 3.86 |
The only D2 player who can say he was both a Reliever of The Year and Cy Young winner, Bedrosian came from small beginnings while playing part of his college ball at New Haven.
Drafted in the third round by the Braves in 1978, it was not until 1987 that "Bedrock" won his Relief Award, the same year in which he was named the Cy Young winner. During that year, the Phillies star reached 40 saves for the only time in his career.
While his career high point did not last for long, he can be listed among the best D2 alumni of all time for what he did in 1987 that will go down in baseball history.
