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I also need to thank everyone who put on the pinstripes with me. There are so many people to list that it would take pages upon pages. Everything that happened, we learned from, persevered through, and experienced together. There are those like Thurman Munson, Sparky Lyle, and Dick Tidrow, who could teach me more about pitching—and life—in one clubhouse conversation than I’d expert to learn in an entire season. I have a special appreciation for others such as Goose Gossage, who went on to be and remain lifelong friends; and Willie Randolph, my longtime teammate and friend who I had the special privilege of being co-captains with.
So many of these teammates have written incredible books that are invaluable recollections of history for anybody who wants to relive this era and understand what it means to be a Yankee. To name a couple: The Bronx Zoo by Sparky Lyle and Lou: Fifty Years of Kicking Dirt, Playing Hard, and Winning Big in the Sweet Spot of Baseball by Lou Piniella both captured profound memories and emotion. The number of Yankees books by others is vast too, but I also especially appreciated Driving Mr. Yogi by Harvey Araton that focused on Yogi Berra and our friendship, a bond that means so much to me. I am also indebted to the newspaper writers who covered us every day from organizations like the New York Times, the Daily News, and the New York Post; those big headlines may have been big headaches for us amid all the drama, but those articles and pictures are also important records of our Yankees history.
Finally, and most importantly, I cannot express enough gratitude to my family. My loving, passionate, and brilliant wife, Bonnie, supported me in times good and bad. She was there for advice, comfort, and counsel. Without Bonnie, none of this would have ever happened. That brings me to my children: Jamie, Brandon, and Danielle. They know my stories as well as I do at this point. Along with Bonnie, they helped me read through the pages of this book and help bring it to where it is today. We recounted old stories and shared laughs. We pored through old pictures that brought back even more memories. They didn’t only always support me and make me the proudest father in the world, but they also were a constant reminder of what’s important in life. And the way I was raised, nothing means more to me than family.
About the Authors
RON GUIDRY is one of the most beloved players in Yankees history. The ace of the Yankees pitching staff from 1977 through 1988, Guidry helped the Yankees win two World Series titles. Captain of the Yankees squad in the 1980s, he spent his entire career in pinstripes. Since retirement he has served as a Yankees spring training instructor and was the Yankees pitching coach under Joe Torre in 2006–2007, helping to shape a new generation of pitching stars. He lives with his family in Louisiana.
ANDREW BEATON is a sports reporter for the Wall Street Journal. A graduate of Duke University, he has covered college sports, baseball, and the National Football League.
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