Mike Ferraro came to Quigley Stadium on a major league scouting assignment in 1974, and wasn’t sure what to make of the rail-thin, almost sickly looking left-handed pitcher for the West Haven Yankees.

But once Ron Guidry started throwing, it became clear the gangly kid from Louisiana had other-worldly stuff.

“I saw him make four appearances, all in short relief,” Ferraro once told the Register. “I remember he faced 11 batters and he struck out all 11 guys. Now that was impressive, and I gave New York my evaluation.”

Guidry was clearly the most celebrated player in the 11-year history of Double-A baseball at Quigley. Four years after leaving, he’d already won two World Series championships, the Cy Young Award and turned in one of the greatest single-season performances by a starting pitcher in Yankees history.

Read Chip Malafronte's complete story.