Larry Gura
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Cyril Gura is a former left-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
from to . He went to Arizona State University
and spent 16 years in the Major Leagues. He played for the Chicago Cubs
(1970–1973, 1985) of the National League
, and the New York Yankees
(1974–1975) and Kansas City Royals
(1976–1985), both of the American League
. He was inducted into the inaugural Joliet Hall of Fame in Joliet, Illinois.
He was elected to the American League All-Star
team in 1980 when he had his finest season, finishing with an 18-10 record and a 2.95 ERA. Gura won in double figures for seven consecutive seasons for the Royals (1978–1984) compiling 99 wins over that span. He particularly pestered his former team, the Yankees, against whom he went 11-6 in the regular season as a Royal. Gura was 3-0 against them in both 1979 and 1980, with five complete games, and tossed another complete-game victory against the Bronx Bombers in the 1980 American League Championship Series
.
Gura finished with a 126-97 career record, 24 saves and an earned run average
of 3.76.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from to . He went to Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
and spent 16 years in the Major Leagues. He played for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1970–1973, 1985) of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, and the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1974–1975) and Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
(1976–1985), both of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. He was inducted into the inaugural Joliet Hall of Fame in Joliet, Illinois.
He was elected to the American League All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team in 1980 when he had his finest season, finishing with an 18-10 record and a 2.95 ERA. Gura won in double figures for seven consecutive seasons for the Royals (1978–1984) compiling 99 wins over that span. He particularly pestered his former team, the Yankees, against whom he went 11-6 in the regular season as a Royal. Gura was 3-0 against them in both 1979 and 1980, with five complete games, and tossed another complete-game victory against the Bronx Bombers in the 1980 American League Championship Series
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
.
Gura finished with a 126-97 career record, 24 saves and an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 3.76.
Highlights
- led the American AssociationAmerican Association (20th century)The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
with a .733 winning percentageWinning percentageIn sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
while playing for the Wichita AerosWichita AerosThe Wichita Aeros was a minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas, that played in the AAA American Association from 1970 through 1984....
in 1972 - led the International LeagueInternational LeagueThe International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
with a 2.14 ERA while playing for the Syracuse Chiefs in 1974 - led the American League in wins (18) and batters faced (1,175) in 1980
Trivia
- had one RBI in 33 major league at bats, it was against pitcher Tom DettoreTom DettoreThomas Anthony Dettore, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs ....
{Three Rivers StadiumThree Rivers StadiumThree Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
— June 19, 1973 (1)}