Major League Baseball Players From Lafayette, La.

Most people know that Ron Guidry is a Lafayette, La. native, that went on the play in Major League Baseball. "Louisiana Lightning", who went to high school at Northside, and college at then USL, began a 14-year career with the New York Yankees, at the age of 25, and went on to win 170 career games.

Guidry's best year was 1978, going 25-3, with a 1.74 era., and the American League Cy Young Award.

Ron Guidry

But what about other Lafayette, La. natives that have appeared in the big leagues throughout the years?

Lee "BeeBee" Richard spent parts of five seasons with the Chicago White Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals between 1971-1976. The infielder, who went to Southern University, hit a career .209. His best season was his rookie year, 1971, with the White Sox, when he hit a .231, with two homers, and 17 RBI's.

Fred Andrews was born in Lafayette, before moving with his family and graduating high school in Ohio. He had six at-bats with the Phillies in 1976, and 23 in 1977, accumulating eight career hits as a second baseman.

Paul Bako was a catcher who played his high school ball at Lafayette High, and his college ball at then USL. Bako spent parts of 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, with 11 different teams, including the Tigers, Astros, Marlins, Braves, Brewers, Cubs, Dodgers, Royals, Orioles, Reds, and Phillies from 1988-2009. Bako was a career .231 hitter, with 24 homers, and 195 RBI's.

Paul Bako

Tom Brown, a pitcher, had a cup of coffee in the big leagues with the Seattle Mariners in 1978, appearing in six games, all in relief, with a 4.15 era.

Pitcher Lance Cormier starred at both Lafayette High and the University of Alabama. Cormier made it to the big leagues in 2004 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and went on to an 8-year career, that included stops in Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, and Los Angeles, as well as Arizona. Cormier began his career in 2004, and appeared with the Dodgers only last year. He has a 24-28 career record, in 468.2 innings, with a 5.07 era.

Lance Cormier

Joey Fontenot, who went to Acadiana High School, pitched in 1998 with the Florida Marlins. The then 21-year-old finished 0-7, with a 6.33 era. in 42.2 innings.

Carlton Loewer was a right-hander pitcher who born in Lafayette, attended high school at St. Edmund in Eunice, and went to college at Mississippi St. Loewer spent parts of four seasons with the Phillies and Padres, between the years 1998-2003, compiling an overall record of 10-18, with a 6.12 era.

Carlton Loewer

Gil Meche, who went to Acadiana High School, spent ten years in the "bigs", between 1999-2010, with the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals. Meche went 84-83, with a career 4.49 era. His best seasons were in 2003, when he won 15 games with the Mariners, and 2008, when he won 14 games with the Royals.

Gil Meche

Lyle Mouton, who prepped at St. Thomas More, before starring at LSU, played in MLB from 1995-2001, with the White Sox, Orioles, Brewers, and Marlins. Mouton finished his 7-year career with a .280 batting average, with 22 homers, and 116 RBI's.

Lyle Mouton

Kevin Morgan had one at-bat with the New York Mets in 1997. Morgan, a third baseman, went to college at Southeastern Louisiana.

Finally, catcher Luke Montz is currently a member of the Miami Marlins organization. Montz, who went to Acadiana High School, collected three hits, including a homer, in 21 at-bats with the Nationals back in 2008.

There are other players from the Acadiana that did the area proud by spending time in the big leagues, including Mamou native Danny Ardoin, who was a catcher with the Twins, Rockies, Rangers, Orioles, and Dodgers from 2000-2008; Crowley native Eric Hetzel, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1989 and 1990; New Iberia native Shane Youman, a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2006-2007; Mamou native Barry Manuel, who pitched with the Rangers, Expos, Mets, and Diamondbacks between the years of 1991-1998; and pitcher Patt Rapp, a Jennings native who pitched with the Giants, Marlins, Royals, Orioles, Red Sox, and Angels, from 1992-2001.

Shane Youman

Did I leave anyone out?

If I did, e-mail me, steve@espn1420.com, and let me know.