Former Yankees and Reds pitcher Don Gullett who won three World Series in his MLB career dies at 73

Three-time World Series champion and nine-year MLB veteran Don Gullett died at the age of 73 on Wednesday.

Gullett was best known for being a left-handed pitcher who spent seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and went on to appear in four World Series with the franchise. He helped them win the 1975 and 1976 World Series.

The Kentucky native, then went on to play two seasons for the New York Yankees, helping the Bronx Bombers win the World Series in 1977.

No cause of death was reported.

Gullett, a first-round draft pick by the Reds in 1969, made his major league debut in April 1970.

Gullett spent seven of his nine MLB seasons pitching for the Cincinnati Reds and won two titles

In 10 career World Series appearances, Gullett was 2-2 with a 3.61 ERA. He started Game 7 of the 1975 World Series for the Reds against the Boston Red Sox and gave up three runs in four innings of a no-decision. The Reds won the title with a 4-3 victory.

Gullett appeared in one World Series game for the Yankees in 1977. He pitched in just eight games during the 1978 regular season, his last in baseball, missing the postseason and World Series run. He was on the Yankees’ World Series roster, however.

Gullett served as Reds pitching coach from 1993 to 2005. ‘Don dedicated 24 years to this franchise as a player, coach and minor league instructor,’ Reds CEO Bob Castellini said in a statement. 

He then spent two seasons pitching for the New York Yankees and won his third World Series

‘An anchor on the pitching staff of one of the greatest baseball teams in history, his contributions to our rich tradition, our city and his community will never be forgotten.’

In 266 career regular-season appearances (186 starts), Gullett was 109-50 with a 3.11 ERA and 921 strikeouts over 1,390 innings pitched. In a peculiar brush with history, Gullett gave up the 660th career home runs to both Willie Mays and Hank Aaron.

The Reds’ Pete Rose once said of his teammate: ‘Don Gullett’s the only guy who can throw a baseball through a car wash and not get the ball wet.’