Mickey Lolich, one of the greatest Detroit Tigers of all time, passed away today at the age of 85. He led the Tigers to their 1968 World Series win over the St. Louis Cardinals. He was named the MVP of the series despite the presence of Hall of Fame Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson and his teammate Denny McLain, the 1968 American Cy Young Award winner.
Lolich won three games in the series, outdueling Gibson in a historic game seven. In the game, the big lefty, working on two days’ rest, threw a complete game, giving up five hits, three walks, and one earned run to go along with four strikeouts for the win. Each of his three wins during the series was a complete game. But there is so much more to Mickey Lolich than one spectacular World Series.
Statement from the Tigers on Lolich, and Early Career
The Tigers released this statement on the passing of Mickey Lolich.
“The Tigers are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mickey Lolich, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. One of the finest pitchers in franchise history, He was a three-time All-Star who pitched for Detroit for 13 seasons and holds several Tigers team records.
“He was a member of the 1968 World Series Champion Tigers team, earning World Series MVP honors after posting a 3-0 record with a 1.67 ERA. Lolich will be remembered as one of the most durable and dominant left-handed pitchers of his era and a cornerstone of Detroit’s pitching staff for more than a decade.”
Michael “Mickey” Lolich was born on September 12, 1940, in Portland, Oregon. Naturally right-handed, he began pitching left-handed after an accident he suffered as a child. As a teenager, he was a standout pitcher in American Legion Baseball and the Babe Ruth League, setting state records for strikeouts.
Lolich attended Lincoln High School in Portland, where he set more strikeout records. Mickey signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent at age 17 in 1958. He began his professional career in 1959, and after moving up the Tigers’ farm system, he became a mainstay of their pitching staff in 1963.
Wonderfully Successful Career
Lolich pitched 16 years in the big leagues, all but three with the Tigers. For his career, he compiled a 217-191 record, with 2.832 strikeouts in 3,638.1 innings pitched. Mickey’s best season was 1971, when he was 25-14, leading the league in wins (25), strikeouts (308), innings pitched (376), and complete games, an unbelievable 29. His 2,679 strikeouts while pitching for the Tigers are the second-highest in American League history by a left-hander.
And despite all this success, Lolich never won a Cy Young Award and has been denied entry to the Baseball Hall of Fame. This is unjust, as he is considered one of the greatest left-handed pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball.
Mickey Lolich is survived by his wife, Joyce, and other family members.
This column is dedicated to my good friend David Wright. The biggest Tigers fan I know and a firm believer in the greatness of Mickey Lolich.
