LIVERPOOL, N.Y. -- A 2008 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee helped to raise money for Little Leaguers in Central New York.

Rich "Goose" Gossage was the featured speaker at the Diamond Dinner at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool. The annual dinner raises money for the District 8 Little League Foundation. The money helps repair fields and buy equipment for underprivileged kids.

Gossage said it shows the true spirit of baseball.

"It's not all about the wins and losses, it's about all the life lessons out there on that baseball field and you know, whether your kid makes it to the big leagues or not, he's going to be a better child and better kid and better person for playing the game," Gossage said.

Gossage pitched 22 years in the major leagues. He will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in July.