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February 17
Rise and Fall of Denny McLain - February 17
Originally aired February 17, 1970, this clip features coverage of Denny McLain, pitcher of the Detroit Tigers. This story covers the news of an impending article in Sports Illustrated regarding alleged activities of McLain consorting with gamblers.
Although he had won 20 games in 1966 and 17 more in 1967, few could have imagined what Denny McLain would accomplish in 1968. Pitching with a magical team behind him, the bespectacled righty won 31 games, becoming the first thirty-game winner since Dizzy Dean in 1934. McLain was rewarded with the AL MVP and Cy Young Award (the first and only American League unanimous winner of both awards in the same season), and the following year, he again won the Cy Young, posting 24 victories. At 25 years old, he was rich, famous and successful. But then the wheels came off his gravy train due to his own dishonesty and character flaws. Early in 1970, McLain was suspended by the commissioner for a previous gambling incident. Later that season, he filed for bankruptcy, tossed water on a reporter, and was suspended for a gun violation. Traded to the Senators, McLain argued with manager Ted Williams, was suspended a few more times, and ended up out of baseball before he was 29 years old. After his playing career, McLain continued his troublesome behavior and eventually wound up in a Michigan prison for racketeering and drugs.
His major league debut was on September 21, 1963, at 19. His debut against the Chicago White Sox was notable, as he allowed one earned run on seven hits. He also picked off two baserunners and hit a home run, which was the only home run of his major-league career. McLain became one of only six teenage MLB pitchers to hit a major-league home run since 1920.
On June 15, 1965, McLain set a major-league record for relief pitchers when he struck out the first seven batters he faced after entering the game in the first inning to relieve starting pitcher Dave Wickersham.
On September 18, 1967, McLain reported that he had severely injured two toes on his left foot, saying that he had stubbed them after his foot had fallen asleep. In his start on September 18, he lasted two innings, giving up four earned runs against the Red Sox. In his final start of the season, a win-or-go-home game against the Angels, he allowed three earned runs in 2.2 innings.
McCalin made history in 1968 when, on September 14 at Tiger Stadium, McLain pitched the Tigers to a 5–4 victory over the Oakland Athletics in front of a nationally televised audience to become Major League Baseball's first 30-game winner since 1934. Dizzy Dean, the previous 30-game winner, was on hand to congratulate him.
In his next start, Mclain, a Mickey Mantle fan as a boy, served up Mantle's 535th HR. Depending on what story you believe, Mick knew what was coming and where, and his homerun lifted him to third all-time. It was the last HR of his career. He appropriately thanked Mclain on his way around the bases.
McCalin won the 1968 American League Cy Young Award, as well as the American League Most Valuable Player Award, the first by an American League pitcher since Bobby Shantz in 1952 and the first by a Tiger since fellow pitcher Hal Newhouser's back-to-back honors in 1944 and 1945. He was the first pitcher in American League history to win the Most Valuable Player Award and the Cy Young Award in the same season. St. Louis Cardinal Bob Gibson won the National League's Most Valuable Player Award that same year, making 1968 the only season to date in which a pitcher won the MVP Award in both leagues (it was also the only time both Cy Young Award winners were voted unanimously until 2022).
With the Tigers down three games to two in the World Series, Mclain won game six on two days' rest to even the series, and series star Mickey Lolich won game seven vs. Bob Gibson in an epic match-up. After the series, Mclain said, "I wouldn't trade one Bob Gibson for 12 Mickey Loliches."
In February 1970, Sports Illustrated and Penthouse published articles about McLain's involvement in bookmaking activities. Sports Illustrated cited sources who alleged that the foot injury suffered by McLain late in 1967 was caused by an organized crime figure who stomped on McLain's foot as punishment for failing to pay off a lost bet.
Mclain is just 26 years old, and coming off back-to-back Cy Young Awards, he will never be the same. He will be suspended multiple times by Bowie Kuhn, feuding with writers, managers, and coaches. In 71, he lost 22 games playing for Ted Williams and the Washington Senators, another mark not touched since in the American League.
By the end of 1972, he was out of professional baseball. His 31 wins remain a near-untouchable single-season mark in the current game.
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Trivia:
In 1970 Denny Mclain was suspended multiple times by Bowie Kuhn and the Tigers, how many times was he suspended?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
Hint: The answer is below
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February 17, 1943, Joe DiMaggio enlists in the US Army, in his customary quiet style, gives no notice to the club drawing. He gives up his $43,500 salary from the Yankees, for the $50 a month as an army enlisted man. Although the Bronx Bomber outfielder asked for no special treatment, he will spend most of his time out of harm’s way playing baseball in America. DiMaggio will miss all of the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons before returning to play 132 games for the Yankees in 1946.
February 17, 1958, former major league star Bob Feller is hired as a broadcaster by the Mutual Broadcasting System. The Hall of Fame right-hander will serve as a color analyst on the radio network’s “game of the week” broadcast.
February 17 1964 – Former White Sox SS Luke Appling is elected into the Hall of Fame by a special vote by the Baseball Writers Association of America. In 1953, Appling’s first year of eligibility for Cooperstown, the Sox great received just two votes.Appling played 20 seasons with the Chicago White Sox, compiling a lifetime batting average of .310 and a total of 1,116 RBIs. He holds the single-season highest batting average for his position, hitting .388 in 1936.
Originally aired February 17, 1970, this clip features coverage of Denny McLain, pitcher of the Detroit Tigers. This story covers the news of an impending article in Sports Illustrated regarding alleged activities of McLain consorting with gamblers.
February 17, 1971, future Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski signs a three-year contract with the Boston Red Sox worth $500,000. The deal is believed to be the largest in major league history. In 1970, Yastrzemski enjoyed one of his finest seasons, batting .329, with 40 home runs, 102 RBIs, and a career-high 23 stolen bases.
February 17, 1989, Hall of Fame pitcher Lefty Gomez dies at the age of 80. Gomez won 189 games over a 14-year career with the New York Yankees and Washington Senators. Gomez pitched exceptionally well in World Series play, winning six games without a loss.
Quote of the day:
"I wanted us to beat them in four. I got tired of hearing about Gibson's 1.12 ERA. I kept saying, 'If he's that good, why didn't he win some more games?'"
Denny McLain about the 1968 World Series
MILESTONES
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Willie Kirkland, Roger Craig, Red Barber, Mike Cosgrove, Jamie Easterly, Dick Bosman, Dave Roberts, and Bruce Ogrodowski
Passings.
Brock Pemberton, Lefty Gomez and Red Ruffing
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Trivia Answer: McLain was suspended three times during the 1970 season, his final year with the Detroit Tigers. The suspensions were for gambling, throwing water on reporters, and carrying a gun on a team flight.
