Mauro Gozzo: Former Italian / American Mets Pitcher (1993-1994)

Mauro Paul Gozzo was born on March 7, 1966 in New Britain, Connecticut. 

The Italian American right handed pitcher was nicknamed “Goose” by his team mates. 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 & got called up to the big leagues. He went 4-1 with the Blue Jays that season, getting traded over to Cleveland the next year.

He would win 10 games at the minor league level two more times, but only got into six MLB games over the next three seasons. He spent a year in Minnesota before returning to the New York Mets in 1993.

Gozzo went 8-11 with a 3.45 ERA at AAA Norfolk earning 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

In 1994 he got a chance as a starter, going seven innings against the Cardinals in St. Louis on May 8th, to earn the victory. He then beat the Atlanta Braves in his next start going into the 7th inning. But he then lost his next two starts & was back in the bullpen by the end of June.

He to 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.
 
Gozzo would not pitch in the majors again, he ended his six year playing career going 7-7 with one save, 55 strikeouts in 124 innings pitched over 48 games, posting a 5.30 ERA.

Retirement: He is now a director of a baseball team in the amateur athletic union.