"A contract squabble and poor offensive support contributed to the veteran's second straight losing year. Guidry was not re-signed as a free agent until May 1. He pitched in the minors and was used in relief five times before he finally returned to the rotation on June 9.
Guidry fanned 14 batters in 6 2/3 innings against the White Sox in July, the most by a Yankee pitcher since he set the club record with 18 strikeouts against the Angels on June 17, 1978. He allowed just seven earned runs in his five no-decisions as a starter.
Born in Lafayette, Lousiana, Guidry was selected by the Yankees in the third round of the June 1971 draft. With 1,746 strikeouts, he ranks second to Whitey Ford (1,956) on the club list."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition
"Something was missing in April 1987. For the first time in over a decade, the Yankees were without their pitching ace, Ron Guidry. Gator re-signed as a free agent on May 1 and started the year with two appearances in Florida and one in Columbus before joining the Yankees on May 24. This early struggle would be indicative of Guidry's season.
His first five outings with New York were out of the bullpen and he didn't make his first start until June 9. Just when he looked to be the Guidry of old he battled a combination of little offensive support, terrible first innings and a tender left elbow that ended his season on September 5.
There were signs, however, that Louisiana Lightning was back, despite his second straight sub-.500 season (5-8). He allowed two runs or less in 11 of his 17 starts, had five no-decisions where he pitched well enough to win and had a 14-strikeout game. After off-season elbow surgery Guidry, who ranks in the top 10 in most of the team's all-time pitching categories, is ready to assume his position as Co-Captain and team leader.
'I pitched some good games that my record didn't show, in what was more or less a salvaged year,' Gator says. 'Now I'm looking forward to this year.'"
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"Failing to sign by the midnight January 8, 1987 deadline, Guidry was unable to sign with the Yankees until May 1. Signing a two-year contract, he reported to the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees (Class-A Florida State League) on May 5 and appeared in two games, throwing six innings, allowing four hits, no runs, walking one and striking out seven. He remained in Florida until May 18, when he was assigned to the Columbus Clippers, making his only start for the Clippers on that date, going five innings and allowing three hits, two runs (one earned), two walks, striking out three and being credited for the 6-2 victory over the Richmond Braves. Guidry had his Columbus contract purchased by the Yankees on May 23.
His first five outings for the Yankees in 1987 were in relief (0-1, 2.45 ERA, 7.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K [1.23 WHIP]). His five relief appearances were the most he's had in a season since making eight in 1980. Ron made his first start on June 9 against Toronto, losing the 7-2 decision.
In his next two starts he combined to allow just two earned runs in 11 innings but did not figure in either decision. After he allowed a season high three home runs on June 24 at Baltimore as the Yankees were shutout 4-0, his record was now 0-3. He notched his first win of '87 on June 30 at Toronto, allowing no runs in 7.2 innings pitched as New York won 4-0.
From June 30 through July 31 Gator made seven starts, allowing 11 earned runs (six coming on solo homers) in 50 innings, going 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA. Of his three no-decision during that span, New York lost two while scoring a combined three runs in the losses. Ron's most impressive outing came on July 11 at Chicago when he struck out 14 in 6.2 innings, the second highest single-game total of his career and most by a Yankee since he set the Yankee record with 18 strikeouts on June 17, 1978 against California. In that game of July 11, 14 of the 20 outs he recorded were by strikeout.
From August 6 through August 21 Guidry lost four straight starts, allowing 20 earned runs in 25.1 innings (7.11 ERA). He won his final two games of the year, with the start on August 31 (10 K in 7.1 IP) against Oakland snapping that losing streak. Due to a tender left shoulder, his final start of the year came on September 5 in a 7-6 win against California. Guidry's final 17 outings of the year were all starts. He threw complete games on July 6 against Minnesota, losing 2-0, and on August 21 at Oakland, losing 6-4.
His career total of 1,746 strikeouts ranks second only to Whitey Ford's 1,956 on the all-time Yankee list, his 168 wins ties Bob Shawkey for fourth, and his 2,337 innings ranks sixth. Guidry is tied with Spud Chandler for sixth on the shutout list with 26, ranks ninth with 356 games and ranks 16th with 95 complete games. Since 1977, his first full year in the majors, his total of 168 wins is the most of any major league pitcher over the same period of time; Jack Morris is next with 162.
Ron underwent surgery on December 8 to repair a partial tear in a muscle that overlays the rotator cuff in his left shoulder. The operation, considered a complete success, was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama.
With Billy Martin as his manager, Ron has a career 84-22 record, a .792 winning percentage, with a 3.06 ERA. Under all his other major league managers combined, he is 84-66, a .560 winning percentage, with a 3.42 ERA.
In 1986 Ron had the second sub-.500 season of his career, going 9-12 [with a 1.25 WHIP], the first time since 1976 he failed to win in double figures, yet his 140 strikeouts led the club for the sixth time in ten years. He was named co-captain along with teammate Willie Randolph on March 4.
Gator began the season 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his first four games, with three walks and 19 strikeouts. In his next 13 games, from April 29 to July 2, he compiled a 1-8 record with a 5.03 ERA, allowing 44 earned runs and 11 homers in 78.2 innings pitched; in that span New York won three of four games in which he got no decision, and he threw two complete game one-run losses (May 20 against Oakland, 2-1, and May 31 at Oakland, 4-3). Guidry did not pitch more than six innings in six of those 13 starts.
In his May 10 start at Texas, he struck out 11 Rangers in seven innings, winning 4-3- the most strikeouts by Guidry since 1984. Beginning with his next start on May 15 through July 2, he lost seven straight decisions (10 G, 58.2 IP, 33 ER, 5.06 ERA)- by far the longest losing streak of his career. Guidry had lost three in one season straight six times, and his longest previous losing streak was four games, September 10, 1982 to April 12, 1983.
Guidry's two inning performance on June 16 against Boston was his shortest since going two innings on July 10, 1982, having made 118 starts in between. On July 2 at Yankee Stadium against Detroit, he was cut between the index and middle fingers of his left hand while attempting to spear a line drive off the bat of Lance Parrish. The gash required five stitches and Guidry was placed on the 21-day disabled list on July 3- the second stint of his career on the DL (at the time he was 4-8, 4.05 ERA, 48 ER, 106.2 IP).
While on the DL, Gator was assigned to Albany-Colonie (AA Eastern League) for rehabilitation, starting there before a huge crowd on July 23 against the Nashua Pirates. He threw three innings, allowing one hit, one earned run, two walks and striking out three. Ron was activated from the DL on July 27, starting and winning that night in Minnesota (his first win since May 10).
Ron pitched the shortest starting assignment of his career on August 29 at Seattle, going 1.1 inning (5 H, 5 ER)- his two previous shortest outings were each 1.2 innings. He was 5-4 with a 3.89 ERA (37 ER, 85.2 IP) after coming off the DL through the end of the season. He was 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA in his last five starts (12 ER, 38 IP), losing the last two by scores of 3-2 to Detroit and 3-0 to Toronto- each a complete game effort.
Overall in '86, five of Ron's losses came in one-run games, while the Yankees were shut out in two others. He won his fifth straight Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Ron was first brought up to the Yankees from Syracuse on July 27, 1975 and made his major league debut that day at Shea against the Red Sox. He made nine relief appearances prior to his first major league start on September 22, also against Boston, in which he suffered his first major league loss. He pitched in just seven games in 1976, all in relief.
1977 was his first full year with the Yankees. Guidry was used in relief in six of his first seven appearances, then ended the year with 24 straight starts. He notched his first major league win on April 13 at Kansas City in a relief role, and his first career save was recorded on April 24 at Cleveland. His first win as a starter came on April 29 in New York against Seattle.
From August 10 to September 25 Guidry went 8-0, raising his record to 16-6. He was 1-0 in two ALCS starts and threw a 4-2 complete game 4-hitter against Los Angeles in the World Series. 1977 was just a sign of things to come.
Guidry had a dream season for any pitcher in 1978. He was the unanimous choice for the Cy Young Award (the only other unanimous winner was Denny McLain in 1968), finished second in the MVP voting to Jim Rice and set 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 hit just .193 against him.
He 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 is 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.
Ron was also named Sporting News Man of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year, Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and Baseball Quarterly Performer of the Year. He was named to the United Press International, Associated Press and Sporting News and All-Star teams.
He won his second straight ERA title in 1979 and was named to the UPI All-Star team. He played an inning in center field against Toronto on September 29 of that year. He reached his 100th career decision in 1980 (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 Ron was AL Pitcher of the Month of August (4-0 and a 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. He jumped off to a fast start in 1982, posting an 8-1 record by June 14, and notched his 100th major league win on August 31 at Minnesota.
In 1983, Guidry led the AL with 21 complete games- a career high- was third with 21 wins, tied for fourth with three shutouts, tied for fifth with a .700 won-lost percentage, was sixth with 156 strikeouts, seventh with 250.1 innings pitched and 12th with a 3.42 ERA. He was named to his fourth AL All-Star team but did not play due to a lower back strain. He played center field for a third of an inning on August 18 during the conclusion of the 'Pine Tar' game, then won six straight starts from August 19 to September 14. Guidry won his second consecutive Gold Glove award for AL pitchers with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and was also named to the 1983 Sporting News All-Star team.
His best 1984 performance came on August 7 when he blanked the White Sox 7-0 on four hits, striking out a season high 13 (also the team high for '84, later tied by Joe Cowley). Ron ended the game by striking out the side on nine pitches, tying a major league record. He was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career on August 16.
Guidry began the 1985 season with a 6-3 win at Cleveland on April 13, New York's first win of '85. He lost his next three starts, but on May 4 against Kansas City pitched a complete game 5-2 win, starting him on a 12-game winning streak that upped his record to 13-3 on July 20; over the streak he gave up 30 earned runs 123.2 innings for a 2.18 ERA. The streak ended with a 6-5 loss at Cleveland on July 31. Ron made one relief appearance on May 17 at California, retiring Reggie Jackson.
He threw back-to-back shutouts on June 17 at Baltimore and on June 22 at Detroit, the 25th and 26th shutouts of his career. He would have been selected to the All-Star team but declined, knowing he could not pitch if needed.
Ron allowed five home runs on September 17 at Detroit, his career high, yet pitched his 2,000th career inning in the third inning of that game. He won his 20th game on September 22 at Baltimore, becoming only the seventh Yankee to win 20 games three times. He won nine of his last 11 decisions and six of his last seven, including his last three.
He struck out Baltimore's Lee Lacy in the seventh inning on September 28 for career strikeout No. 1,500 and struck out a season high 10 on October 3 against Baltimore. Overall in '85, Guidry struck out 100+ batters for the ninth straight year.
In high school at Northside High, where they had no baseball team, Guidry was named Outstanding Track Man for two years. At Southwestern Louisiana, where he majored in architecture, he hurled a no-hitter and was named to the Gulf States All-Stars.
Ron was named the 1984 Roberto Clemente Award winner as the player who 'best exemplifies the game of baseball both on and off the field.' He points to his service to humanity as being the best work of his life.
Ron enjoys hunting and chess and could play the drums professionally. He grew up as a fan of the Yankees and Whitey Ford and his biggest thrill was his 18-strikeout game. Ron spent six years in the National Guard. He is of French ancestry."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
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