1978: Guidry’s 18-strikeout game
Ron Guidry strikes out 18 batters in a four-hit, 4-0 shutout of the Angels, setting a club record that stands to this day, and at the time setting an A.L single-game record for a left-hander.
One of Guidry’s only jams comes in the third inning, when he allows a pair of two-out singles, but he strikes out the side by getting Joe Rudi with runners on the corners. He would allow only one hit the rest of the way. He whiffs the side once again in the fourth inning, giving him nine strikeouts to that point. He reaches double digits in the fifth when he gets Ike Hampton, and rings up the side one more time in the sixth, moving him up to 14 in the game. Gator breaks the franchise record when he whiffs his 16th batter of the game in the eighth, and his final strikeout is of Rudi in the ninth – one of four times he got Rudi to strike out in the game. Guidry strikes out every Angels hitter at least once, and six Halos are rung up multiple times.
The victory raises the Yankee southpaw's record to 11-0. He would win his first 13 decisions, and 15 of his first 16 en route to one of the greatest pitching seasons in Yankees history; a 25-3 record and a 1.74 ERA, earning him the unanimous Cy Young Award; as he earns all 28 first-place votes.
1941: Joe DiMaggio’s streak reaches 30
Joe DiMaggio is credited with a hit in his 30th consecutive game in somewhat controversial fashion. DiMaggio is 0-for-2 when he steps to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning with what could be his last chance to keep the hit streak alive. He sends a grounder to Luke Appling at short, but the ball bounces up and hits Appling on the shoulder. DiMaggio is awarded a hit by official scorer Dan Daniel, and the Yankee Stadium crowd of 10,442 roars in approval. Chicago beats the Yankees, 8-7, but DiMaggio’s 56-game hit streak remains intact.
1936: Ruffing’s historic day with the bat
Yankees starter Red Ruffing ties the American League record for pitchers by hitting for 10 total bases in Game 1 of a doubleheader. He joins then-Red Sox pitcher Babe Ruth as the only junior circuit pitchers to do so. Ruffing hits two home runs and has a four-hit day as the Yankees crush the Indians, 15-4.
Ruffing’s first homer comes in the top of the seventh inning, a solo shot to left-center. And he drills another blast to lead off the ninth inning. The A.L. record stands to this day. The Yankees would win Game 2 of the twinbill, 12-2. Ruffing is widely regarded as one of the best hitting pitchers in Yankees history. He ends his career with 36 home runs, by far the most of any pitcher in club history.
