Though relatively unknown in the major leagues, he was highly successful in the Japanese Central League, making a total of 120 saves during his five-season stay. He is noted as one of the premier closers of the Chunichi Dragons.\n', '

Gaillard was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1993 after graduating from Florida Southern College. He was promoted to the majors for the first time in 1997, and went to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998, and the Cincinnati Reds in 2000.\n', '

Gaillard joined the Chunichi Dragons in the Japanese Central League at the beginning of 2000. He took over the closing job that Korean pitcher Sun Dong-Yeol had left open after retiring, and led the league with 35 saves, appearing in the All-Star Game. However, he allowed the game-tying grand slam and walk-off home run back-to-back to the Yomiuri Giants, a first place team that was one win away from winning the league. He led the league in saves again in 2002, posting a 1.52 ERA.\n', '

Return to Eddie Gaillard Autograph Profile