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Bill Gullickson

William Lee Gullickson (born February 20, 1959 in Marshall, Minnesota) is a former major league baseball pitcher who played for five different teams, in both the U.S. and Japan during a fourteen year career.

MLB career

Gullickson was taken in the June 1977 Major League Baseball Draft by the Montreal Expos, the second player to be taken. He finished second behind Steve Howe in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in , after a season in which he went 10-5 with an ERA of three, and set a major-league record for most strikeouts in a game by a rookie, with 18. Gullickson held that record for 18 years, until Kerry Wood broke it with 20 strikeouts in . Gullickson currently holds the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals all-time strikeout record for a single game with 18 strikeouts.

In he helped the Expos to their only division title with a 7-9, 2.81 record. Except for the 1981 strike season, Gullickson was in double figures in wins for every year onward.

Gullickson was acquired by the Reds in , going 15-12 that season. The next year he was acquired by the New York Yankees for their pennant drive, but he was unhappy there and in accepted a two million offer to pitch in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants.

NPB Career

Gullickson stayed with the Giants for two seasons, with a record 21-14. From this major league pitcher, the son of Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima, Kazushige Nagashima got his first hit, as a home run in his professional career. When asked about his time in Japan, Gullickson said it was strange; the only English words that he saw were "Sony and Mitsubishi."

But, Gullickson left several good influences. When he was in Japan, it was miracle that a patient of type 1 of Diabetes Mellitus played as a professional sport player, like Gullickson. Since 1998, Japan Diabetes Mellitus Society (JADMC) has placed "Gullickson Award" for the patient, who contributes for society. Gullickson made a friendship with his young fellow, Masumi Kuwata, and named from this Japanese wise pitcher to the middle name of his son, as "Craig Kuwata Gullickson". On the other hand, Kuwata learned many things from Gullickson, and grew up to be one of the best player in Japan. And, he wished to go to MLB in future, and at last, this dream was realized in , as a member of Pittsburgh Pirates. After about 20 years from meet Gullickson, Kuwata became an old rookie, when he was 39 years old.

Back to MLB

Gullickson signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros after the 1989 season, and had a mediocre season before being released.

He then signed a multi-million dollar contract with the Detroit Tigers, with whom he pitched a few seasons. While with the Tigers he met a kid who was then 12, who also had diabetes, and talked to him for two minutes. It was future major leaguer Sam Fuld, who is battling to make the Cubs' 2008 team. "That was enough to inspire me," Fuld said. "Any time I can talk to young diabetic kids, I look forward to that opportunity."

In Gullickson led the American League in wins, with 20, but in was forced to retire due to injuries.

Family

Gullickson is married to Sandy Gullickson and is the father of many up and coming sports stars. Daughter, Cassie, is on the Track and Field Team at the University of Notre Dame. Daughter, Carly, is a professional tennis player, whose highest world ranking in singles is 174 and in doubles 52. Bill and Sandy are also the parents of Chelsey, Callie, Craig, and Chloe.

Craig Gullickson was a standout pitcher at Cardinal Newman High School, where he was one of the best pitchers in the state of Florida. He received a scholarship to play for Clemson University after his wonderful performance in the High School All Star game, played in Arizona. One of the coaches for that game was his coach at Cardinal Newman, Jack Kokinda.