An MLB lifer once laid into Jose Bautista for breaking baseball's unwritten rules with his emphatic bat flips

Goose Gossage, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, once blasted Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays for his home run celebrations in 2016. Gossage referred to Bautista as a "disgrace to the game" in a foul-mouthed interview.

Gossage laid into Bautista for breaking one of baseball’s unwritten rules with his emphatic bat flip.

“Bautista is a f*****g disgrace to the game,” Gossage told ESPN. “He’s embarrassing to all the Latin players, whoever played before him, throwing his bat and acting like a fool, like all those guys in Toronto. Cespedes, same thing.”

Bautista attempted to play down the matter, saying he was not interested in picking fights.

“He’s entitled to his opinion,” Bautista said. “I don’t agree with him whatsoever. I’ve never talked to him. I don’t know him. Whatever reason or agenda he’s on is fine with me. I’m not going to start picking a fight, let alone with a Hall of Famer.”

He also addressed the matter on Twitter.

"If you ain't got no haters you ain't poppin'..." Rico Richie - Jose Bautista via Twitter

The controversy over "showboating" and alleged "home-run pimping" sparked by Bautista's bat flip erupted between traditionalists who contended that extravagant celebrations were disrespectful to the game and those who praised the flare and thrill of Bautista's big moment.

Who doesn’t love bat flips and celebrations? Here’s what Ben Verlander tweeted last year.

"First off. I LOVE celebrations. Bat flips. Do a damn cartwheel around the bases for all I care. Make baseball fun I believe you can do all that while not showing up your opponent. Disagree with me if you want. I mean the name of my show is @FlippinBatsPod. Celebrate all you want" – Ben Verlander via Twitter

Respected for his performances in pivotal games, Gossage has been used seven times as the last one out to seal a division, league, or World Series victory. Before Mariano Rivera surpassed him in 2008, his eight reliever All-Star selections stood as a record; he was also chosen once as a starter. In 2008, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He currently works in broadcasting.

Jose Bautista's MLB career

In August 2008, Bautista was traded to the Blue Jays. He broke through with 10 home runs in September 2009 after modifying his swing.

Toronto Blue Jays v Oakland Athletics

In addition to leading or ranking in the top 10 in various offensive single-season and career categories during the Blue Jays' history, Bautista was selected four times as the American League's Most Valuable Player.