COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — For more than two decades, Rich "Goose" Gossage unnerved batters as one of baseball's most menacing and dominating relief pitchers. Yesterday, it was his turn for the jitters.

"This experience is overwhelming, over the top. I can't put in words what this means," Gossage told a decidedly New York Yankees crowd during the National Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony that capped his 22-year career.

Gossage had to pause twice to collect his thoughts — including once when he was moved to tears talking about now dead teammates Thurman Munson and Bobby Murcer.

"I'm like a kid going on his first ride at Disney World and not getting off for 22 years," said Gossage.

Dick Williams — one of Gossage's former managers — also was inducted yesterday. Williams managed six teams in 21-year career, winning the World Series with the Oakland Athletics in 1972 and 1973. He also won league pennants with the Boston Red Sox in 1967 and San Diego Padres in 1984.

"It's hard to believe that at age 79, this has to be one of my most memorable times," said Williams, whose 1,571 wins are good for 17th place all-time.

More than 14,000 people watched the ceremony, including a record 56 of the 64 living Hall of Famers.

Gossage was elected in January on his ninth try, almost unimaginable given his pioneering place in the evolution of today's relief pitcher.

Gossage — entering the hall wearing a New York Yankees hat — finished his career in 1994 with a 124-107 record, 1,502 strikeouts and 3.01 ERA in 1,002 games. He ranks third in both wins in relief (115) and innings pitched in relief (1,556).

Of his 310 career saves, Gossage worked more than two innings 52 times. By comparison, prior to the 2008 season, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera had done that just once in 443 saves and San Diego's Trevor Hoffman, the career saves leader, has never done it.

In 125 of his saves, Gossage recorded at least six outs.

The 57-year-old Gossage, a nine-time All-Star, joins Bruce Sutter, Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, and Dennis Eckersley as relievers enshrined in Cooperstown.

ELSEWHERE

Red Sox: Manny Ramirez is "tired" of and would agree to a trade that would make both him and the team happy. But he doesn't think it will happen and Boston, battling for a playoff spot, needs the production of its cleanup hitter despite its oft-contentious relationship with him. Four days before the non-waiver trading deadline, Ramirez said yesterday, "I'm tired of them. They're tired of me." The Red Sox have until Nov. 9 to pick up a $20 million option for next year on Ramirez, who would have to approve any trade as a 10-year veteran with five years on the same team.

Pirates: Pittsburgh called up right-hander Jason Davis from Triple-A Indianapolis and sent former first-round draft pick John Van Benschoten back to the minor leagues yesterday. Davis was 6-9 with a 4.41 ERA in 21 appearances for Indianapolis. Right-hander Jeff Karstens, one of three starting pitchers picked up Saturday in a six-player trade with the Yankees, will join the team today and is expected to take Van Benschoten's spot in the rotation, general manager Neal Huntington said.

Royals: Jose Guillen was held out of the lineup yesterday after reinjured his left groin in Kansas City's 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night.