On this day back in 1978, Ron Guidry set a franchise record by striking out 18 Angel batters in a 4-0 complete game victory. The previous record was 15 strikeouts, set back on September 27, 1919 by Bob Shawkey. Whitey Ford also had a 15 K performance, but that came in an extra inning game in 1959. It was during this historic outing that Phil Rizzuto, who was in the booth calling the game, coined Guirdy’s nickname of the Louisiana Lighting.
This performance is also believed to be the start of a Yankee Stadium tradition. Whenever Guidry had two strikes on a batter, the crowd would stand and begin to rhythmically clap for the punch out.
’78 would be the best season of his 14 year tenure with the Bombers. He finished an astounding 25-3 with a 1.74 ERA, 16 complete games and nine shutouts while holding batters to a .193 batting average, .249 on-base percentage, and .279 slugging percentage. He was the AL Cy Young winner, named to his first of four All Star games, won his second World Series with the team, and came in second in MVP voting.
Gator was co-captain of the Yankees along with Willie Randolph from 1986-88. The team held Ron Guidry Day at the stadium on August 23, 2003, and retired his number 49 from service. His plaque reads: A three time 20 game winner, he went 25-3 with a 1.74 earned run average to win the 1978 AL Cy Young Award. Set Yankees records in 1978 by winning his first 13 decisions and compiling 248 strikeouts, including a club record 18 on June 17th versus California at Yankee Stadium. A dominating pitcher and a respected leader of the pitching staff for three American League pennants and two World Series championships. A true Yankee.
The Louisiana Lighting finished his career 170-91 with a 3.29 ERA, 1,778 strikeouts, 95 complete games and 26 shutouts.
