Put Gator In The Hall: The Biggest Games Of Their Lives

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The Biggest Games Of Their Lives

Sunday, May 3, 2009 , Posted by Gator Guy at 12:47 PM

That's Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling after winning the 2001 World Series and being selected as co-MVPs. Here's what you get if you aggregate the September pennant race numbers and the post-seasons numbers for each pitcher, subtracting any games pitched after clinching or elimination.*

These were undoubtedly the biggest games in the careers of these pitchers. Again, it is notable that Guidry won more games in significantly fewer starts than Schilling or Johnson.

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* Schilling won games after his team clinched playoff spots in '93 and '05 and won a game after the D'backs were eliminated in 2000. Guidry won a game after elimination in '83. Johnson was blown out in a game after the D'backs had been eliminated in 2000.

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Feature Article

The Veterans Committee Meets Again In Late July

Ron Guidry is eligible for the Veterans Committee ballot for the first time, as are Graig Nettles and Tommy John. As I've said before, I believe the Quiet Cajun has been lost in the shuffle in recent years, with the Yankee organization and fans focusing intently on Donnie Baseball's candidacy. But with Guidry being newly eligible this year, I would hope the Yankees and their fans would start drumming up support for Gator. The process could start in the television and radio booths at Yankee Stadium this summer.

I have a suggestion for Michael Kay, Kenny Singleton, John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman: it's time to start reminding fans that Ron Guidry had as much to do with those three pennants and two world championships thirty years ago as Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles and Goose Gossage - perhaps more. It's safe to say that without Guidry's epic performances down the stretch in '77 and '78 the Yankees wouldn't have made the post-season at all. No world series victories. No three HR game from Reggie Jackson in '77. No spectacular display of leather legerdemain in '78 by Nettles. No one-game playoff at Fenway, no "sacrifice thigh" by Reggie, no Bucky Dent.

The Yankees should also get behind Allie Reynolds' bid for the Hall. Reynolds missed induction by one vote in last year's pre-1943 Veterans Committee balloting, and yet the Yankees haven't retired Allie's No. 22. A ceremony to retire Allie's number and remind Yankee fans of his huge contributions to six world series winners could help put him over the top. And Reynolds' induction would further Guidry's candidacy because of the striking similarity in their careers and accomplishments. The case for Reynolds' induction is virtually the same as Guidry's: each was an extraordinary performer in the post-season and down the stretch of multiple heated pennant races, and each must be considered among the top big-game pitchers of his generation.

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