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Tom “Flash” Gordon has an impressive resume: He played 21 years in the Major League Baseball, was a three-time all-star and recorded 54 consecutive savings that set an MLB record at the time.
On top of his impressive MLB career, the acclaimed author Stephen King also based a book about him, “The girl who loved Tom Gordon.” King, a big Boston Red Sox fan, appeared at Fenway Park to observe Gordon.
“Stephen King, this great author, his wife (Tabitha), they come to the ballpark every single day,” Gordon told Pakinomist Digital in a recent conversation. “And from my understanding now I didn’t know this, just, you know, came out of Dugout and sat for a moment before traveling to the bullp in the sixth. I didn’t know they saw everything I did.”
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Former Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Tom “Flash” Gordon is honored on the field during a first name ceremony before a Triple-A Minor League baseball match between Lehigh Valley Ironpigs and Worcester Red Sox in Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts, May 18, 2023. (Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I didn’t know they were sitting there and just saying you know, let’s just see if this is the right guy for this, this moment, and eventually it came to it. I became the guy at that moment.”
Gordon said Stephen and Tabitha King came to his hometown to see if he was the right person for the book.
“They came and met me in my hometown and ate at a restaurant called Olympic Restaurant. And she told Stephen, she says, Flash is the right person for this. Stephen told me, he said when she said there was no other body, no other person we thought this would happen to you, my friend,” Gordon said.
“And that was the actual final result. And I’m grateful.”
Gordon asked King why he was chosen and not anyone else.
“I asked a few times why me? You know why me? And he told me there was no better guy to do this with because we liked how you approached the game. And I approached the game the same way I did as a kid,” Gordon said.
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Pitcher Tom Gordon (36) from New York Yankees delivers a pitch against Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York, on May 27, 2005. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
“You know I want to be the guy who at the end of the day the player shook his hand and said, ‘Hi guy, we won that game. And that was not about me, but we won that game today’ and I just liked to be a guy. I had the ball in my hand, the last pitches, the last two pitchers, then three pitchers in the game. pitches, “Last pitchers, then three pitchers in the game. And I liked being the guy that there was a shaking everyone who was in the last pitches. “
Gordon said the time of the book came at a time when so many “good things” happened. King’s book about him was around the same time he took over the closer role and thrived.
“You know I went out there when (manager) Jimy Williams gave me the ball and said, flash, you could close. And I’m like ‘Jimy, you lost your mind.’ (Williams replied) ‘No flash, frankly, the seats you have, you can close baseball games and be really good at it,’ “Gordon said.
“Then when he decided to make me (the closer), Dennis Eckersley was there with me, and I’m like, yes, we still have the big Eck. And you know who was going (over)? He went, Eck goes up to me, he says, ‘I’ve spoken to Jimy and I know I’m right. This baseball.
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Stephen King participates in the premiere of “The Life of Chuck” during 2024 Toronto International Film Festival at the Princess of Wales Theater in Toronto, Ontario, September 6, 2024. (Olivia Wong/Getty Images)
Gordon ended up setting an MLB record (later broken by Eric Gagne) by registering 54 consecutive savings by taking control of the closer role.
“I had my whole family with me, every single rescue, every single time. Rolled 54 savings in a row. And it was just my teammates were really, really proud of it. So it was when I knew this is something special,” Gordon said.
“And Stephen King took it to another, bigger and higher platform.”
Gordon said King’s book about him sent “shock waves” through his community.
“When Stephen did it, it sent shock waves through me and the community. My, my family, everyone here, my city, he came to my city, Um, went to my high school himself and his wife, the fan, and signed autographs. Families here bought the books, the book, and it was just really cool, man.
“Just humble, down-to-earth people that you just fall in love with. And I’m definitely a Stephen King fan and I’m grateful that I got a chance.”
Gordon said there was an added advantage of being apart from the book.
Tom Gordon (36) from Kansas City Royal’s seats under a Major League Baseball match at Royals Stadium. The game was played in Kansas City, Missouri, around 1992. Gordon played for Royals from 1988 to 1995. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
“Here’s the funniest part of it. Even when all that took place I started coming to the field. When I heard about it, I started coming to the field and looking at the stadium like, oh my god, every girl in the stadium likes me,” Gordon said.
“This is great. Every woman I promise you not a woman in these stands will boo me.”
For Gordon he said his life has been “amazing.”
“I just have to give God his credit,” Gordon said.
Gordon is now heavily involved in Perfect Game, the world’s largest and most comprehensive scouting organization. He has a podcast, “Innings of Life” that debuts shortly.
Gordon traveled the country in an RV, built with a custom podcast study, where he interviews current and former baseball players, leaders and leaders.
