Rick Goettl

Class of 2019

Pitcher

Jim Falls Sturgeons 1975-76; Cadott Red Sox 1977-84

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A right-handed pitcher, Rick Goettl was the ace of the memorable and dominant Cadott Red Sox teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

After spending his first two CRBL seasons pitching a total of 30.1 innings with the Jim Falls Sturgeons, Goettl went to Cadott in 1977, where he would remain until the conclusion of his career in 1984. In his first season with the Sox, the righty went 5 and 1 with a 2.72 ERA and 43 K’s in 56.1 frames. His breakout campaign aligned with Cadott’s 17 and 1, South Division championship flag.

After going 2 and 2 in 1978, Rick’s 1979 season was stellar as he notched a perfect 4 and 0 mark with an ERA of 1.84 ERA and 70 K’s in 53.2 innings as the Red Sox went 16 and 1, capturing another South Division title.

Goettl’s unblemished 1979 season began one of the winningest six-season runs of any pitcher in CRBL history. From 1979 to his final season of 1984, Cadott’s ace compiled a sterling record of 36 and 5 (.878 winning percentage). Within this elite stretch of success, the Red Stocking led the league in wins three consecutive seasons – 1981 (7 wins), 1982 (6 wins), and 1983 (9 wins) – innings pitched with 77.2 in 1983, saves with 2 in both 1979 (two) and 1982, as well as winning percentage in 1981 (.875, 7 and 1) and 1982 (1.000, 6 and 0).

Pitching in a time of metal bats and hitter friendly parks, Rick posted sub-2.00 ERA’s in 1979 (1.84), 1981 (1.27 – a career low), and 1982 (1.61).

From 1979 to 1984, Cadott won five consecutive South Division titles (1979 to 1983), three CRBL Championships (1980 to 1982), played in five CRBL title games (1979 to 1983), and four deciding CRBL playoff games. During that era of split season formats, Goettl was called upon frequently to help the Red Sox survive the tiers of playoffs and related elimination games. In total, the righty twirled in three South division playoff games, capturing a win in each contest with a sparkling ERA of 0.42 in 21.2 innings pitched with 24 strikeouts. In five CRBL championship games (all starts), he went 3 and 2, with each of his wins in the Sox 1980-82 championship run. In the 1982 title game, Rick had one of his brightest moments, twirling an 8-0, complete game shutout vs. the Tilden Tigers, scattering 7 hits and walking five while being backed by errorless defense from his Cadott brethren.

The author of the CRBL’s 25th no-hitter in 1984, (5 inning, 17-0 win vs. the Cornell Oilers), Goettl appeared in two all-star contests (1981 and 1984), and was also named All-CRBL pitcher in 1981 and 1984. Upon induction, the Red Sox great’s all-time rankings can be found in winning percentage (11th), wins (25th), saves (tied for 24th), shutouts (tied for 28th), innings pitched per year (37th), strikeouts (tied for 41st), strikeouts per nine innings (41st), innings pitched (43rd), ERA (44th), and decisions (tied for 45th).