Recalling Ron Guidry's Big-League Debut
ALSO: ROUNDTABLE GENERATES MEMORABLE LINES
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Pregame Pepper
Did you know…
A third-generation Fielder has started his path to the pros. Jadyn Fielder, who plays second and third, could follow father Prince and grandfather Cecil to the bigs now that he’s signed with Milwaukee. Between them, Prince and Cecil Fielder combined for nine All-Star selections, including Prince in 2007, 2009 and 2011 for the Brewers . . .
Now that we talked about a teenager, how about a graybeard? Veteran left-hander Rich Hill, 44, has several suitors, including the Yankees and Dodgers, and would instantly become the oldest active player in the majors . . .
These weak teams scored the most runs in a game this offensively-challenged year:
May 4: A’s (20, vs. Marlins)
July 24: Rockies (20, vs. Red Sox)
July 6: A’s (19 vs. Orioles)
July 14: A’s (18 vs. Phillies)
Leading Off
A Great Career Began on This Day in 1975
By Paul Semendinger
The other day I was talking to some younger baseball fans - young men in their late twenties. These were knowledgeable fans — they talked about the current players, the struggles the Yankees have faced in recent weeks, and seemed familiar with the history of the game. In our conversation, I asked them a trivia question about Graig Nettles, the great Yankee third baseman from the 1970s, and found out they had never heard of him.
They never heard of Graig Nettles!
When I was a kid growing up, Nettles was my hero. He was my favorite player. Even today, when the topic of the Hall of Fame comes up, Nettles gets mentioned as a player who deserves serious consideration. But, among some younger fans, and I feel these fans were somewhat representative of "younger" fans today, Nettles' name and accomplishments have now faded away. A great Yankee ... slowly being forgotten.
I think it's always been that way — the players we remember from our youths obviously do not resonate with the young fans — and it'll be that way with them as they reach (and pass) middle age themselves. Every player can't be remembered always...
(As an aside, this is why it is essential for the sport to have places where the players are remembered — like Monument Park in Yankee Stadium and the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.
It is in those places that the careers of players can (and do) live forever. As a further aside, this is also why it is essential — and way past time — for the Yankees to honor players like Graig Nettles and Roy White, two great Yankees legends, in Monument Park while they are still with us. Roy White is now 80 years old and Graig Nettles will be 80 on August 20.
As I think about the Yankees stars from my youth, it turns out that one of them, another who is slowly being less remembered, got his start on this very day in 1975...
On July 27, in 1975, Ron Guidry made his Major League debut. Guidry has, at times, been also been discussed as a candidate for the Hall of Fame, although he is an extremely longshot candidate. Still, Guidry was very very good. Even today, according to Baseball Almanac, he ranks 25th all-time in winning percentage for pitchers with a record of 170-91 (.651) which is just about equal to Sandy Koufax's 165-87 (.655). Ron Guidry also won a Cy Young Award, twice led the American league in ERA, won five Gold Gloves, and was a four time All-Star.
Ron Guidry's first major-league appearance came as a relief pitcher. In that game, one the Yankees lost at home 6-0 to the Red Sox, the lefty from Louisiana pitched the final two innings in relief.
By the time Guidry came into the game, the Red Sox were already leading by the score they'd win by, 6-0. The first batter Guidry faced was a future teammate, Juan Beniquez, who flew out to centerfield.
Denny Doyle, brother of Brian Doyle who would star for the Yankees in the 1978 World Series, then singled. Carl Yastrzemski then lined out to left field before Jim Rice became the first batter Ron Guidry ever struck out to end the inning.
In the ninth inning, Guidry got himself into trouble immediately. Fred Lynn led off with a double. Carlton Fisk then singled him to third. Ron Guidry then found something that worked a little better. He struck out Rick Miller and followed that by striking out Rico Petrocelli. The last batter to face Guidry that day was Bob Heise, who flew out to right field.
All told, Guidry went two innings, allowing three hits, and striking out three. It was a solid debut for the kid.
Guidry's first career start came later in that 1975 season. On September 22, again at Yankee Stadium, he faced the Red Sox. This game did not fare as well for the young lefty.
In the bottom of the first inning, Thurman Munson hit a two-run home run to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Guidry then allowed a run (a Fred Lynn sacrifice fly that scored Carton Fisk) to cut the lead to 2-1 where the score stayed until the sixth inning when, it seems, Guidry ran out of gas.
In that inning, with one out, Guidry gave up singles to Deron Johnson and Rico Petrocelli before an RBI double by Fred Lynn knocked Guidry out of the game. The Red Sox won that game 6-4.
Guidry wouldn't earn his first big-league win until the 1977 season. It came on April 13 at Kansas City. Guidry pitched 2.2 innings of relief in that game.
He'd win his first start later that month, on April 29, 1977 at home against the Seattle Mariners. In that game, Guidry pitched 8.1 innings of shutout ball, giving a hint of what was to come...
Dr. Paul Semendinger runs the Yankees site Start Spreading the News. He is the author of numerous books including from Compton to the Bronx, The Least Among Them, Impossible is an Illusion, Scattering the Ashes, and more.
Cleaning Up
Notes to Remember From Monday Roundtable
By Dan Schlossberg
One-liners that surfaced during the Monday Roundtable that ended Hall of Fame weekend:
A former Double-A catcher who spent 18 years in the minors (11 as a manager), Jim Leyland said, “I hope I’m an inspiration to other guys out there not to give up”
Jim Leyland’s son Pat manages the Kannapolis Cannonballs but he never questions anything the kid does
Even though only 22 managers reside in the Hall of Fame, the Eras Committee won’t consider them again until they vote for the Class of 2027
After completing an unassisted triple play, Troy Tulowitzki casually tossed the ball to Todd Helton — who threw it into the stands without thinking and had to trade a signed bat to get it back for the Colorado shortstop
Helton considered former Colorado manager Clint Hurdle his confidante
Todd Helton has two extremely athletic daughters
A difficult interview, Helton thanked the writers “for making the most of what little I gave you”
Joe Mauer’s mother is the best athlete in the family, according to her Hall of Fame son
The first catcher to win three batting titles, Mauer broke up three no-hitters in the ninth inning
Mauer is the first Hall of Famer born in the ‘80s and the youngest overall at 41
After striking out one night against Felix Hernandez, Adrian Beltre regrouped and hit a home run he says “is still traveling in the Texas night”
Beltre’s son Adrian is starting his college career as a combination shortstop and pitcher
Ten 10 Twins alumni dominated the dias of Hall of Famers who watched the speeches by the four-man Class of 2024
Former AP sportswriter Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is the author of Home Run King: the Remarkable Record of Hank Aaron. He covers baseball for forbes.com, USA TODAY Sports Weekly, Memories & Dreams, and other outlets. Dan’s email is ballauthor@gmail.com.
Timeless Trivia: Notes On Baseball Trades
“Trading is hoping. General managers trade for what they hope will happen. There’s never been a general manager who’s so brilliant he can guarantee a sure-shot trade. Show me a general manager with a reputation as a shrewd trader and I’ll show you a man who’s been lucky.”
— Maury Wills, who was sold or traded three times in his career
Four-team trades were completed in 1953, 1977, 2002, and 2004 . . .
The $101 million the Red Sox spent on Japanese star Diasuke Matsuzaka (between the posting fee and the contract) before the 2007 season was nearly 100 times more than Warner Brothers paid to make Casablanca. They were aware of it too, since the grandfather and great uncle of Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein wrote the Humphrey Bogart classic . . .
In 1999, his first season with the Red Sox after his trade from the Montreal Expos, Pedro Martinez fanned 313 batters, started the All-Star Game, and won his second Cy Young Award . . .
After his trade from the Tigers to the Phillies, Jim Bunning became the first man to pitch no-hitters in both leagues . . .
The Orioles won four pennants in the six Frank Robinson years after his trade from the Dodgers.
Know Your Editors
HERE’S THE PITCH is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [gopherben@gmail.com] handles Monday and Tuesday editions, Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] does Wednesday and Thursday, and Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com] edits the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HTP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.
Recalling that George Steinbrenner had about given up on Guidry in 1976: makes you wonder if Charlie Finley's "sale" of Vida Blue to the Yankees in June '76 had not been canceled by Bowie Kuhn, if Guidry would've ever been heard from again.