Eric Gagne; (gahn-YAY)...he and his wife,Valerie, have a daughter, Faye (11/11/00) and a son, Maddox (1/5/04)...graduated from Polyvalente Edouard Montpetit High School in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the same high school that Dodger prospect Russell Martin attended...pitched for Canadian National team in 1995...played baseball for one season at Seminole State Junior College (OK), during which time he learned the English language...grew up near Montreal's Olympic Stadium and attended Expos games as a youngster...while recovering from elbow surgery in 1997, pondered retiring...wears prescription goggles when he pitches because of a hockey injury...took part in the inaugural Dodger Caravan on Jan. 24, 2005...has helped raise $47,500 for the UCLA Children's Hospital Cancer Research Foundation as Farmer John has made a donation for each of his saves in 2003-04......participated in Dodgers''Dash' for National Hunger Awareness Day on June 1, 2004, taking part in a shopping spree at a local Albertson's market, helping to raise $30,000......honored at the Cedars Sinai Sports Spectacular Dinner on June 27, 2004...he and Valerie visited Gratts Elementary School on Aug. 18, 2004 where they donated books on behalf of the Dodgers Dream Foundation...visited the Children's Hospital on June 18, 2003 where he spent time with children in the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center...took part in the Dodger Dream Foundation charity golf tournament in 2003 and 2004...signed by Claude Pelletier.

Eric Gagne 2005:
Was limited to just 14 games due to two stints on the disabled list (April 1-May 14 and June 13-end of the season) with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow...underwent season-ending surgery to repair the ligament on June 24...the procedure was performed by Dr. Frank Jobe and Dr. Ralph Gambardella...posted a 1-0 record, a 2.70 ERA and converted all eight of his save opportunities, giving him 160 saves in 166 career save chances (96.4 percent)...extended streak to 18 consecutive converted save opportunities, dating back to Aug. 28, 2004...in 13.1 innings of work, allowed 10 hits and three walks while striking out 22 batters...retired the last 14 batters faced and 16 of 17 overall...began the season on the DL and had three dominating rehabilitation assignments at Triple-A Las Vegas in which he retired all 12 batters he faced...returned to active roster on May 14, having missed the season's first 35 games.

Eric Gagne 2004:
Completed his third season as the Dodger closer with another dominating campaign, finishing seventh in National League Cy Young Award voting...was named the top closer in baseball by USA Today Sports Weekly...appeared in 70 games and was 7-3 with a 2.19 ERA, converting 45 of 47 save opportunities...in 82.1 innings, gave up just 53 hits and 22 walks while striking out 114 batters...entered the season having converted a Major League-record 63 consecutive saves and extended that mark to 84 before suffering first blown save in nearly two years...during the streak, had a 0.82 ERA, allowing eight earned runs, 43 hits and 19 walks with 141 strikeouts in 87.2 innings...brought career saves total to 152 (in 158 chances), becoming the franchise's all-time leader...the 152 saves are most ever by a pitcher from Canada...set big league record for saves over a three-year period, eclipsing mark of 142, set by Dennis Eckersley (1990-92)...became third MLB pitcher to notch 45 or more saves in three seasons and the only one to do it in consecutive campaigns... won NL's Rolaids Relief Man competition for the second consecutive seasons with 142 points...was the MLB Rolaids leader in September with 31 points as he went 2-0 and 9-for-9 in save chances...also led MLB in the competition in July by earning 35 points after going 1-0 with 11 saves...his seven wins were a career high...topped big league relievers with a .957 save percentage...his career .962 save percentage is a MLB record...ranked third in NL in saves...opponents batted .181 (53-for-293), the third-lowest mark among NL relievers... his 2.19 ERA was sixth among NL relievers...stranded all 18 inherited runners...of his 45 saves, 21 came against NL West, including seven vs. the Giants...was 23-for-23 in save chances on the road...over final 15 outings of season, was 3-0 with 10 saves...until surrendering a two-run homer to the Giants' Barry Bonds on April 16, had pitched 22.2 consecutive scoreless innings, dating back to the 2003 season... closed out 2003 by hurling 18.1 consecutive scoreless innings...struck out the side on May 1 vs. Montreal for his 70th consecutive converted save...notched saves in four consecutive games from June 15-18 and saved five of six games during the June 15-20 homestand...tossed a scoreless ninth on June 18 vs. New York Yankees for his 80th consecutive converted save...entered June 20 game vs.Yankees with 5-3 lead, one on and two outs and struck out Alex Rodriguez swinging to end inning and proceeded to earn save No. 125 of career...from June 24-July 26, faced 55 consecutive batters without issuing a walk...on June 29 vs. San Francisco, pitched scoreless ninth to get 19th save of campaign and 126th career save, which set a new mark for a pitcher from Canada (John Hiller had the previous record)...pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning on July 3 at Anaheim to record 21st save of season and 84th consecutive save...saw his MLB-record saves streak come to an end on July 5 vs. Arizona when the Diamondbacks put together three straight one-out hits to tally a pair of runs and tie the game at 5-5...Chad Tracy's single through the hole on the right side scored Luis Gonzalez with the tying and streak-breaking run...came back the next night vs. Arizona to pitch a scoreless ninth and save the Dodgers' 4-1 victory...it was save No. 129 of his career, which tied Jeff Shaw's all-time franchise record...pitched 15.0 consecutive scoreless innings over 11 outings from July 6-Aug. 1, allowing six hits and two walks with 24 strikeouts...in 13 appearances from July 6-Aug. 4, was 2-0 with 11 saves and a 1.06 ERA (2 ER/17.0 IP)...struck out 10 of 11 batters faced, including the first eight in a row, during one stretch over three outings July 10, 15 and 17...became club's all-time saves leader in next appearance, on July 10 vs. Houston, as he retired all six batters faced, including final three on strikeouts...recorded 24th save on July 15 at Arizona after entering with one on and two outs in eighth and proceeded to strike out all four batters faced, extending strikeout streak to seven consecutive batters...hurled 3.0 shutout innings on Aug. 1 at San Diego and picked up fourth win when Robin Ventura hit gamewinning homer in top of 12th...it was longest relief outing since career-high 3.1 innings on May 14, 2000 at St. Louis...suffered second blown save of season and sixth of career on Aug. 18 vs. Florida when he entered ninth with 4- 2 lead and surrendered four runs...picked up 40th save and third save in three days on Sept. 11 vs. St. Louis as he retired side in order to preserve 6-5 win...on Sept. 17 at Colorado, hurled 2.0 shutout innings and had six strikeouts, his career high as a reliever, to collect career-high seventh win in Dodgers' 8-6 10-inning victory...on Sept. 26 at San Francisco, collected save No. 45 by pitching 2.0 shutout innings, striking out three...it was the fifth 2.0-inning save of his career and fourth of season...appeared in two games in the National League Division Series against St. Louis, pitching 3.0 innings and allowing just one hit and no runs while striking out three.

Eric Gagne 2003:
In addition to capturing his first National League Cy Young Award, was named National League Pitcher of the Year by USA Today Sports Weekly and finished fifth in the MVP voting done by that publication...also earned National League Pitcher of the Year and Reliever of the Year honors from The Sporting News...earned the Hilton Smith Legacy Award by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which honors the National League's Best Relief Pitcher...took home the award for Most Outstanding Pitcher in the National League in the Players Choice Awards, a poll conducted by the Major League Baseball Players Association...was also one of three finalists for Player of the Year, which included both leagues...was named as one of 12 finalists for Pitcher of the Year in both leagues by MLB.com...was named as the Top Canadian Male Athlete in all of professional sports by the Toronto Globe and Mail...earned the Tip O'Neill Award for the second straight season, presented annually by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum to the Canadian player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals...named Co-MVP in the National League in the Los Angeles Sports Fans Choice awards...in 77 appearances, was 2-3 with a 1.20 ERA, which was second to Smoltz (1.12) among NL relievers...his 1.20 ERA was the lowest ever among Major League pitchers with 75 or more appearances in a single season...allowed just 37 hits and 20 walks while striking out 137 in 82.1 innings...appeared in second consecutive All-Star Game...led the Major Leagues with 55 saves, which tied the single-season National League record, set by Atlanta's John Smoltz in 2002, and ranked second only to Bobby Thigpen's 57 for the Chicago White Sox in 1990...converted all 55 save opportunities and set an MLB mark for consecutive saves with 63, dating back to Aug. 28, 2002, breaking the previous record of 54 set by Boston's Tom Gordon (1998-99)...the 55 consecutive converted saves are a Major League mark for consecutive saves to start a season and consecutive saves during a season...broke the Major League record by averaging 14.98 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, eclipsing the previous mark set by Billy Wagner in 1999 (14.95)...tied Rolaids points record for August with 35 (one win, MLB-best 11 saves)...also won monthly Rolaids award in May when he had 11 saves to tie Wagner for most in Majors...was second in Majors with 10 saves in June...in his 55 save situations, had a 0.32 ERA, giving up only two runs, 21 hits and 10 walks with 98 strikeouts in 57.0 innings...entered in save situations with a one-run lead 24 times, a two-run lead 11 times, a three-run lead 18 times and a four-run lead twice...recorded saves in six successive games from May 16-22, joining Rod Beck (1998 Cubs) as the only Major League pitchers to accomplish that feat...during the stretch, struck out the side three games in a row, retired the side in order five times and allowed just an infield hit while striking out 14 of 19 batters faced...topped MLB relievers with 137 strikeouts over 82.1 innings and they are the second-most ever by a Dodger reliever (Mike Marshall had 143 in 1974)...struck out at least one batter in 71 of 77 appearances...fanned two or more 51 times, three or more 14 times and four batters once...opponents hit .133 (37-for- 279), lowest mark in the Majors...held opponents to a .121 batting average with runners on base, also the lowest mark in the big leagues...on 40 occasions, he retired all the batters he faced and in 13 of those appearances, he struck out each of the hitters...averaged just 6.6 baserunners per nine innings, also the lowest mark in the big leagues...posted the best ratio of batters faced per inning pitched (3.72) since 1950, surpassing the previous best (3.74) held by Baltimore's Dick Hall in 1964...struck out 100 more batters (137) than hits allowed (37), the largest differential for a relief pitcher in baseball history...had the ninth-lowest opponent batting average with runners in scoring position (.118) in Major League Baseball...tied for ninth in the National League with 77 appearances...stranded all 10 runners he inherited...from July 4 through the end of the season, gave up just one run in 40.1 innings over 37 appearances (0.22 ERA)...did not allow a run in first 15.1 innings of the season and gave up just one run in first 18.2 innings...retired 15 straight batters from April 6-13...struck out 10 straight batters from May 17-21...retired side in order to notch saves in three successive games vs. Florida on May 16-18...earned save in MLB-record-tying sixth successive game on May 22 when he retired side in order vs. Colorado...retired 24 straight batters, 13 on strikeouts, from May 31-June 13...retired side in order in seven straight outings June 1-12...posted saves in 10 straight appearances from June 5-21 including four straight games June 10- 13...over 19 outings from July 4-Aug. 17 hurled 21.0 consecutive scoreless innings, a season high for a Dodger reliever... during the stretch, collected 12 saves and allowed just four hits and five walks with 34 strikeouts...posted 30th save with 1.0 scoreless inning on July 5 (game 85) vs. Arizona...accomplished the feat in the Dodgers' 82nd game of the season, tying the Major League record he set in 2002...the record was also tied by Atlanta's John Smoltz in 2003...did not allow a hit in 10 straight appearances from July 27-Aug. 14, a span of 11.1 innings...retired 25 batters in a row, 13 on strikeouts, from July 27-Aug. 12...hurled 1.1 shutout innings on July 27 at Arizona for save No. 35...the save on Aug. 8 was his 39th which broke Jose Mesa's record of consecutive saves to start a season...earned saves in four straight games from Aug. 5- 8, retiring the side in order each time, to garner NL Pepsi Player of the Week honors for Aug. 4-10...struck out side on Aug. 14 at Florida to notch 40th save...he accomplished that feat in the team's 120th game, tying the franchise mark he set in 2002, which was the fifthfastest in big league history...in that game, recorded his 100th strikeout of the season...struck out season-high four batters, gave up three hits and one run in 2.0 innings to record the win on Aug. 20 vs. Montreal...as it turned out that would be the last run he would give up in 2003...on Aug. 28 at Houston, recorded save No. 44 by retiring all four batters faced, but needed a big boost from center fielder Dave Roberts, who made a spectacular leaping catch to rob Lance Berkman of a go-ahead, two-run homer...retired all four batters faced on Sept. 2 vs. Houston to get his 47th save and 55th consecutive over two seasons to break Tom Gordon's all-time record...on Sept. 5 at Colorado, collected the 100th save of his career...recorded his 50th save at Arizona on Sept. 9 in team's 143rd game to tie Smoltz (2002) for the record of quickest to reach 50...on Sept. 18 vs. Arizona, notched only two-inning save of his career as he matched his franchise-record 52 saves...was aided by a great relay throw from Shawn Green to Alex Cora to Paul Lo Duca, which cut down potential tying run at the plate...set new franchise mark with 53rd save on Sept. 21 vs. San Francisco as he retired all four batters faced, three on strikeouts...recorded saves 54 and 55 in back-to-back nights at San Diego on Sept. 23 and 24...closed out campaign by pitching 18.1 consecutive scoreless innings over 16 outings, collecting 14 saves.

Eric Gagne in 2006 Outlook:
It was a left knee injury that sidelined Eric Gagne at the start of spring training. How much Eric Gagne subsequent elbow problems had to do with the adjustments Eric Gagne made to compensate for the knee will forever remain a mystery. Fortunately, Eric Gagne didn't need Tommy John surgery, something Eric Gagne didn't know until after Eric Gagne was cut open on June 24. Eric Gagne's ulnar collateral ligament wasn't torn, so Eric Gagne is expected to be ready for the beginning of this spring. While it's possible that Eric Gagne won't be 100 percent until well into the season, Gagne at 85-90 percent is still clearly better than most of the game's closers. Just look at what Eric Gagne did while he was pitching hurt last season. The Dodgers will probably be good enough to present Eric Gagne with at least 45 save opportunities, so consider paying the price. With the risk factor dropping Eric Gagne's price, Eric Gagne is a better investment than he has been in a couple of years.

• Eric Gagne - Los Angeles Dodgers Eric Gagne
• Eric Gagne 2002
• Eric Gagne 2001
• Eric Gagne 2000

Eric Gagne in 2006 Outlook:
It was a left knee injury that sidelined Eric Gagne at the start of spring training. How much Eric Gagne subsequent elbow problems had to do with the adjustments Eric Gagne made to compensate for the knee will forever remain a mystery. Fortunately, Eric Gagne didn't need Tommy John surgery, something Eric Gagne didn't know until after Eric Gagne was cut open on June 24. Eric Gagne's ulnar collateral ligament wasn't torn, so Eric Gagne is expected to be ready for the beginning of this spring. While it's possible that Eric Gagne won't be 100 percent until well into the season, Gagne at 85-90 percent is still clearly better than most of the game's closers. Just look at what Eric Gagne did while he was pitching hurt last season. The Dodgers will probably be good enough to present Eric Gagne with at least 45 save opportunities, so consider paying the price. With the risk factor dropping Eric Gagne's price, Eric Gagne is a better investment than he has been in a couple of years.

Former Dodgers Players :