On June 17, 1978, Ron Guidry of the New York Yankees sets an American League record for most strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher in a single game. Guidry strikes out 18 California Angels in picking up a 4-0 win-his 11th consecutive victory without a loss. The performance will help coin a new nickname for Guidry as the team’s announcer, Phil Rizzuto, begins to refer to him as “Louisiana Lightning”, inspiring a new Yankees tradition as the fans begin to clap rhythmically each time there are two strikes on the batter.
Fun quote from Ron Guidry!!!!! He said:
“I didn’t try to strike anybody out in that game until the ninth inning. After the eighth, they flashed it up on the scoreboard and I told Thurman that I didn’t realize I was that close. And Thurman said, ‘IF YOU GET CLOSE, YOU WILL GO FOR IT, OR I’LL PERSONALLY BREAK YOUR ANKLES BEFORE YOU GET BACK TO THE DUGOUT.’ The 17th and 18th batters were the only guys I tried to strike out in that game.”
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