In the National League, we had a 39-year old Gaylord Perry of the San Diego Padres showing that he certainly was not done as a pitcher, posting a record of 21-6 with a 2.73 earned run average, taking home his second such award while becoming the first to win one in each league after also winning in 1972 while with the Indians.
It’s especially interesting to note that the Texas Rangers felt Perry was “over-the-hill” when they traded him to San Diego for Dave Tomlin and $125,000.
He’d go on to pitch another five years, until his age-44 season, before retiring with 314 wins, 3534 strikeouts and an excellent 3.11 ERA over 22 seasons and 777 appearances, on his way to a Hall of Fame induction in 1991.
Over in the American League, we had the New York Yankees “Louisiana Lightning” Ron Guidry putting in a season for the ages, going 25-3, setting the record that still stands for winning percentage among 20-game winners with a brilliant .893, while also setting team records for shutouts with nine and strikeouts with 248, while leading the Majors with his microscopic 1.74 earned run average.
It’s easy to forget how Guidry was already 27 years of age then, only his second full season in the Majors, which would explain why he’d only pitch 14 seasons yet retire at the age of 37 in 1988.
Nevertheless, Guidry would go on to post three 20-win seasons, take home two ERA crowns, and two World Championships while forever being a fan favorite in the Bronx to this day.
I personally never got over him getting ripped off the MVP in 1978, losing out to an equally deserving Jim Rice. But then in 1986 the tables were turned, once again against the Yankees favor when Don Mattingly was ripped off MVP when it was given this time to a pitcher, the Red Sox Roger Clemens.
Some things never die with me...