April 1, 2018
Guidry's first book since his 1983 eponymous memoir, coauthored with sports writer Beaton, offers an exploration of his life on and off the baseball field, including an inside look at the sport's most storied franchise, the New York Yankees. A Louisiana native who grew up idolizing the iconic players on the Yankees, Guidry (nicknamed Gator) spent his entire career (1975-88) with the organization. During this time, he became an all-star pitcher, accumulated numerous awards, and eventually became a pitching coach for the organization. This volume recounts his two World Series championship seasons (1977, 1978), his historic 18 strikeout game, as well as his early years in the game. Attention is also given to his relationships with Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, and others; the culture of the organization; and Guidry's perspective on the evolution of baseball. VERDICT A worthy contribution to the many works by and about former New York Yankees. Baseball and sports lovers will enjoy this page-turning memoir.--David Miller, Farmville P.L., NC
Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
March 15, 2018
Left-handed pitcher Ron Gator Guidry was one of the stars on the outstanding Yankee teams of the late 1970s that were immortalized in Sparky Lyle and Peter Golenbock's The Bronx Zoo (1979). Like Lyle, Guidry offers portraits of the flamboyant characters who gave those teams their outr� personality?owner George Steinbrenner, manager Billy Martin, and outfielder Reggie Jackson?but Guidry, writing 40 years after the fact, brings a more mature perspective to a perhaps immature time. His takes on the principals are often no more favorable than Lyle's, but they are thoughtful, obviously well informed, and ultimately affectionate. A remarkably talented athlete in his prime, Guidry emerges here as a humble and honest gentleman?and, with the help of coauthor Beaton, a capable writer. Such signature events of Guidry's time with the Yankees as Bucky Dent's dramatic home run in the 1978 playoff game against the Red Sox, and Yankee catcher Thurman Munson's tragic death in 1979, are vividly and intelligently recounted. An additional delight is the story of Guidry's friendship with the aging Yogi Berra (also told in Harvey Araton's Driving Mr. Yogi, 2012).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)