I
know I’ve been a bit heavy on the Yankee players for this thread so
far, but it really was an accident as I find great pre-MLB images to use
for this idea.
That being said, today’s “Future Star” is none other than my favorite
pitcher growing up, Yankee lefty, “Louisiana Lightning” Ron Guidry, who
had a season for the ages in 1978:
Guidry’s breakout Cy Young season of 1978 was something else, posting a
25-3 record with a winning percentage of .893 (still the Major League
high-water mark for a 20-win season), along with a league-leading 1.74
earned run average to go with nine shutouts and 248 strikeouts.
Easily the Cy Young winner, he missed out on the American League MVP
Award, which was given to Jim Rice for HIS awesome year for the Boston
Red Sox.
A model of consistency, Guidry would anchor the Yankees pitching staff
until 1988, retiring with a career record of 170-91, good for a winning
percentage of .651, along with a 3.28 ERA and 1778 strikeouts and 26
shutouts over 368 appearances, 323 of which were starts.
He was named to four all-star teams and took home five straight Gold
Gloves between 1982-1986, along with three 20+ win seasons and two ERA
crowns.