1978 – Todd Self is born in Shreveport, LA. The outfielder appears in 21 games during 2005 before being released, batting .200 with one homer.
1978 – In a controversial selection, Boston Red Sox outfielder Jim Rice is named American League Most Valuable Player over New York Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry. Rice led the AL in home runs (46), RBI (139), hits (213), triples and slugging percentage (.600), and became the first AL player to accumulate 400 total bases in a season since Joe DiMaggio in 1937, while Guidry posted a 25-3 record with 248 strikeouts and a 1.74 ERA for the pennant-winning Yankees.
1978 – The Yankees release pitcher Andy Messersmith, who will sign with the Dodgers. Messersmith never really recovered from the separated shoulder suffered in spring training.
1978 – In the third annual free agent re-entry draft held at the the New York Plaza Hotel, Pete Rose, Tommy John and Darrell Evans are the biggest names among the eligible players.
1978 – New York Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry is the unanimous choice for the 1978 American League Cy Young Award. Guidry led the league in wins (25), winning percentage (.893), shutouts (9), and ERA (1.74).
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