Mauro Gozzo: Former Italian / American Mets Pitcher (1993 - 1994)
Mauro Paul Gozzo was born on March 7, 1966, in New Britain, Connecticut. There he led the second seeded Berlin High School to a Class M Championship.The Italian American right-handed pitcher was nicknamed “Goose” by his teammates. Gozzo was originally drafted by the New York Mets in the 13th round of the 1984 draft.
He went 11-4 with a 2.45 ERA at A ball Memphis in 1985. He followed up with a 3.10 ERA & A 9-4 performance in the Carolina League during the Mets 1986 Championship season.
In March of 1987 he was traded along with Ed Hearn & Rick Anderson to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for David Cone.
He eventually went to the Toronto Blue Jays organization going 12-1 in 1989 getting called up to the big leagues.
Over the next two seasons he would just appear at four games at the big-league level for the Indians. In 1991 he appeared in just two August games, giving up five runs each time, to post a 19.29 ERA.
He was granted free agency & was signed by the Minnesota Twins. He went 10-9 with a 5.35 ERA at AAA getting promoted in late September. He made just two relief appearances with another nightmare on September 28th, giving up five runs in an inning of work to the White Sox serving up two HRs. This put his ERA at 27.00.
Mets Career: In 1993 at AAA Norfolk, Gozzo went 8-11 with a 3.45 ERA for Tides with fellow Connecticut native Brook Fordice as his catcher. That year Gozzo got a September call up. He debuted with the Mets on September 6th, 1993, pitching the 8th inning in a 7-2 loss to the Houston Astros.
On September 18th, Gozzo earned a save against the Braves in Atlanta, closing out a 3-2 Mets win. He was credited with two holds along the way, but then on September 27th, he allowed a 9th inning tie breaking single to St. Louis’ Gerald Perry, which gave Gozzo the loss. On September 29th he pitched three scoreless innings in the Mets seventeen inning 1-0 win over St. Louis
starter. After a no decision, he got a May 8th start, allowing two runs in seven innings at St. Louis, although he gave up seven walks, he allowed just two runs in the 3-2 Mets win to earn his first win. On May 14th he started against the Atlanta Braves at Shea. He pitched into the 7th inning allowing three runs, but the Mets put up 11 runs in an 11-4 win for his second victory.
But he then lost his next two decisions giving up four runs each time. Gozzo was back in the bullpen by the end of June. He wasn't too successful there, losing three of four decisions blowing a save & getting a credit for one hold. He finished the season at 3-5 with a 4.83 ERA striking out 33 batters, walking 28 in 69 innings pitched in 23 appearances.
After the player strike, he signed with the Chicago Cubs & pitched just six games for their AAA Iowa team.
After the player strike, he signed with the Chicago Cubs & pitched just six games for their AAA Iowa team.
Retirement: After his MLB career he became a coach under Wally Backman for New Britan in the Atlantic League of Pro Baseball. After Backman left, he became manager of the team. He then was supposed to coach under Backman again with the Long Island Ducks in 2020 but Covid cancelled the season. In 2021 he became a manager with the Gastonia Honey Hunters in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
Family: Mauro & his wife have twin sons who both played college baseball. They first lived in Tennesse before relocating back Noth in Wallingford, Connecticut.