Gullett was born in Lynn, Kentucky and attended McKell High School in South Shore, Kentucky, where he was an outstanding three-sports athlete in baseball, football, and basketball. As a high school pitcher, he once tossed a perfect game—including striking out 20 of the 21 hitters he faced. Gullett excelled as a high school football player as well once scoring 72 points in a single game. He ran for 11 touchdowns and kicked 6 extra points. He was named all state in three sports his senior year. Gullett's legacy is remembered in a monument on the courthouse lawn in Greenup County, Kentucky that declares that "This is Don Gullett Country."
Professional career
The Reds selected Gullett in the first round of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft. He pitched for the Sioux Falls Packers of the Northern League that season. In 1970, Gullett was so impressive in spring training, despite his inexperience, he made the big league roster of a team that would go on to win the NL Pennant. Pitching in relief of starter Ray Washburn, Gullett debuted on April 10, 1970, on the road against the San Francisco Giants. Gullett had an outstanding rookie season, appearing in 44 games posting a 5-2 record and a 2.43 earned run average. In the 1970 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, Gullett pitched innings and allowed just one earned run as he and veteran Clay Carroll helped keep an injury-riddled pitching staff competitive in the series. Gullett played for the Reds through the season. In November of that year, as a free agent, he signed with the New York Yankees. He enjoyed a 14–4 season with the Yankees in, but shoulder problems in signalled the end of his career. During a nine-year career, Gullett accumulated 109 wins and posted a 3.11 earned run average and tallied 921 strikeouts. Playing for only nine seasons, Gullett was a member of six World Series teams, including four consecutive world champions. At the plate, Gullett posted a career batting average of.194. In a 1975 National League Championship Series game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Gullett pitched a complete game and hit a single and home run, collecting 3 runs batted in. Gullett was also sometimes used as a pinch runner by the Reds. After sitting out the and seasons due to extensive shoulder and rotator cuff problems, Gullett was released by the Yankees in late 1980. In 1989, Gullett played for the St. Lucie Legends of the Senior Professional Baseball Association. In, he rejoined the Reds as pitching coach, a post he held until being ousted mid-season in.
