On a list of the greatest seasons ever by a pitcher, Ron Guidry's season this year would have to rank near the top. Pitching for the New York Yankees, Guidry had a spectacular season that led the Bronx Bombers to their second straight World Series. Guidry was a remarkably graveful left-hander who combined an outstanding fastball with an explosive slider; he earned one of my all-time favourite baseball nicknames, "Louisiana Lightning".

         Guidry's won-loss record is great, his ERA is great, he struck out a lot of batters, threw a bunch of shutouts, had good control...what else is there? Since the DH rule came into effect in 1973, Guidry's ERA is the lowest of any American League starter; Roger Clemens is the only other starter to have an ERA below 2.00. It was a great achievement for a pitcher who took a long time to establish himself. Guidry was 28, and only in his second season. A year earlier, the Yankees tried to trade him to the expansion Toronto Blue Jays. Instead, Guidry stuck with the Yankees, and won 16 games in 1977. This year, he exploded on the scene.
         Guidry was so dominant that it is difficult to remember that there were other good seasons. Mike Caldwell of the Brewers had a wonderful season, the best of his career. Caldwell's career was up-and-down; one year he was 5-14, the next he was 14-5. Before this great season, Caldwell's record the previous three years was 13-28. He finished his career with a few more wins than losses, and had a career ERA of almost average.
         Jim Palmer had another wonderful season, the last of eight 20-win seasons in his career. He ranks just behind Caldwell; who ranks behind Palmer is a tough choice. Jon Matlack was second in the league in ERA, and pitched a lot of innings. But his won-loss record isn't great. Dennis Eckersley had an outstanding record; his ERA isn't as good as Matlack's, but Eckersley pitched for Boston at a time when Fenway Park was a really tough place to pitch. I'll give the edge to Eckersley.
         Most young fans only remember Eckersley as the best closer of his generation. We should remember, though, that Eckersley was once an outstanding starter. The previous year, he threw a no-hitter; this year was his only 20-win season. Eckersley then began to have injury problems, forcing the move to the bullpen. Eckersley was still pitching in 1998, his 24th season, making him the last major leaguer to remain from the Ford administration.