1983 Profile: Ron Guidry

1983 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"For any other pitcher, a 14-8 record, 3.81 ERA and 162 strikeouts would be considered a good year. But this Yankee southpaw's efforts are always compared to that incredible 1978 campaign when he compiled a 25-3 mark. Guidry never lost more than three in a row in '82 and won six straight early in the year to boost his record to 8-1. He had re-signed with the Yankees in the winter of 1981 after going through the re-entry draft.
Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Guidry starred in track in high school because the school had no baseball team. An avid hunter, he struck out 18 in a game against California in 1978 and won a Gold Glove in '82."

-Ken Nigro, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1983 Edition

"Louisiana Lightnin' ... or Gator. By whatever nickname, Ron Guidry ranks among the top left-handers in baseball.
A Yankee through and through, this 5-11, 175-pounder slightly altered his pitching style last season, adding a dose of finesse to his familiar barrage of one fastball after another.
'I've learned I don't have to overpower everybody in the lineup,' explains the 32-year-old Guidry. 'I've cut down on my velocity, plus I added to my pitches. And I learned to throw my fastball at different speeds.'
What a combination it proved to be for Guidry in '82. He was so hot through the first half of '82 that comparisons were being made with his phenomenal 25-3 campaign of 1978.
'Every time out, I'm looking for a win,' explains Guidry. 'All I want to do is continue to do my job. If I win the majority of my starts, I feel I've had a good season.'
With his lifetime mark of 101-42, Guidry ranks among the greatest pitchers of all time."

-The New York Yankees Official 1983 Yearbook


"Another excellent year for Guidry. He jumped off to a fast start, posting an 8-1 record by June 14 and won six straight decisions from May 2 to June 14. Named to his third AL All-Star team, Ron won his 100th career decision on August 31 at Minnesota. He completed six full innings in 26 of his 33 starts and won the Gold Glove for AL pitchers (his first) with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
He has the second best all-time won-lost percentage (.706, 101-42) among pitchers with 100 or more wins; Spud Chandler had a .727 won-lost percentage (109-43). In the last five years (since the start of '78), Guidry is the winningest pitcher in the AL with 85 wins and also leads the league with 882 strikeouts and a 2.88 ERA. He's 93-35 (.727) since August 24, 1977.
1977 was his first full year with the Yankees; he was used in relief in six of his first seven appearances, then ended the year with 24 straight starts. In 1978, Guidry had a 'once in a lifetime' season, winning the Cy Young Award, finishing second in the MVP voting to Jim Rice and setting numerous records. He set the Yankee record for most consecutive wins to start a season, winning his first 13 and breaking the record of Atley Donald, the scout who signed Guidry. His nine shutouts tied Babe Ruth's AL record for most by a lefty, set in 1916. The Yankees won 30 of the 35 games he started, scoring only seven runs in the five losses, and opposing hitters batted only .193.
Ron struck out 10 or more in a game eight times, including a club record 18 against California on June 17, breaking Bob Shawkey's record of 15 set in 1919. His 248 strikeouts for the season was a club record and his 1.74 ERA was the lowest by a major league lefty since Sandy Koufax's 1.73 in 1966. 15 of his 25 wins followed a Yankee loss.
Guidry was a unanimous Cy Young winner (the only other unanimous winner was Denny McLain in 1968). He was also named Sporting News Player of the Year, Sporting News Man of the Year, Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and Baseball Quarterly Performer of the Year. Guidry was named to the Associated Press, Sporting News and United Press International All-Star teams.
In 1979 Ron won his second straight ERA championship and was named to the UPI All-Star team. He played an inning in center field against Toronto on September 29 of that year.
In 1980 Ron reached his 100th career decision (72-28), matching Sal Maglie, Vic Raschi, Spud Chandler and Ed Reulbach behind Whitey Ford's 74-26 for the second best record ever through a pitcher's first 100 career decisions. In 1981 he was AL Pitcher of the Month of August (4-0 and an 0.37 ERA). He broke the little finger on his right hand on a come-backer on August 23, but played with a splint, not missing any starts.
Guidry was born and still resides in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was named Outstanding Track Man for two years at Northside High where they had no baseball team. He hurled a no-hitter and was named to the Gulf States All-Stars at Southwestern Louisiana where he majored in architecture.
Ron is Executive Vice-President of Munro Oil Tool, Inc. in Lafayette and enjoys hunting, chess and studying the Civil War in his spare time. His biggest thrill was his 18-strikeout game. He grew up as a Yankee and Whitey Ford fan."

-1983 New York Yankees Information Guide