1978 Topps Baseball #135 - Ron Guidry

• Ron Guidry had about the best season I can remember for a starting pitcher in 1978. He was dominant during the regular season, winning 25 games in the regular season and one each in the AL Championship Series and the World Series. Ron won the AL Cy Young Award and was second in AL MVP voting. Guidry started the season 13-0 in his first 17 starts and didn't lose a game until July 7.
• Guidry didn't become a full-time major leaguer until he was 26 years old and he retired at the age of 37. If he would have had a few more years in the majors he might have been a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame. Ron had a winning percentage of .630 or better in each of his first seven full seasons (and eight of his first nine). Guidry retired with a .651 lifetime winning percentage.
• 1978 Stats:
• Regular Season: 25-3, 1.74 ERA in 35 starts
• AL Championship Series: 1-0, 1.13 ERA in 1 start
• World Series: 1-0, 1.00 ERA in 1 start
• 1978 Highlights:
• Sept 24 - Pitched a 2-hit shutout and struck out ten batters in New York's 4-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians
• Oct 2: Pitching on three days rest, Guidry was the winning pitcher in the 1-game playoff that decided the AL East title. The Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4. Ron allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings.
• Oct 13: In spite of walking  seven batters Ron had a complete game 5-1 victory over the LA Dodgers in game 3 of the World Series.