On this day back in 1978, Ron Guidry set a franchise record striking out 18 Angel batters in a 4-0 complete game victory. This performance is believed to be the start of a Yankee Stadium tradition. Whenever Guidry had two strikes on a batter, the crowd would stand and begin to rhythmically clap for the punch out.
It was during this historic outing that Phil Rizzuto, who was in the booth calling the game, coined Guirdy’s nickname of the Louisiana Lighting. The previous record was 15 K’s set back on September 27, 1919 by Bob Shawkey.