OT - Mickey Lolich "not doing well"
Tonight's Bally Tigers broadcast mentioned that Lolich is, "not doing well," and similar comments are circulating on Twitter. Please send your good thoughts, prayers, positive vibes or what have you his way.
For you younguns that are on my lawn, Lolich pitched and won 3 complete games in the 1968 World Series, including game 7 on 2 days rest.
And you may have heard about Molina and Wainwright breaking the battery-mate starts record recently. That was previously held be Lolich and Bill Freehan.
#retire29
September 21st, 2022 at 10:24 PM ^
Eat em up Tigas
September 21st, 2022 at 10:27 PM ^
Yeah, Denny McClain gets all the press, but it turned out that even in that 1968 World Series Lolich was better, and he was a legit (and unjustifiably forgotten) stud for most of the next decade, including on some genuinely awful Tigers teams. 217 wins and a career era of 3.44, considering the teams he played on, should justify Hall of Fame consideration.
Hell, fairly similar to both John Smoltz and Catfish Hunter among others ... but they played on winning teams. The extra obstacles you have to face for spending your career as a Tiger. (See also: Lou Whitaker).
September 21st, 2022 at 11:04 PM ^
Lolich HOF
Whitaker HOF
September 21st, 2022 at 11:12 PM ^
Agree Lolich has never received his due recognition. But he was not a career Tiger. He spent a year with the Mets and his final two years with the Padres.
Check out his 1971 season:
45 starts. 376 innings. 308 strikeouts. 25 wins. Did NOT win the Cy Young. Per Baseball Reference he made $58,000 that season and $704,000 for his career.
It was a different game back then.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:25 PM ^
A much better game.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:34 PM ^
Then 22 wins and 327 innings the year after, and then two more 300+ innings season in ‘73 and ‘74. I don’t think he was on a pitch count.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:35 PM ^
Double post.
September 22nd, 2022 at 12:25 AM ^
Mickey said later that Billy Martin was the one who really taught him how to pitch. Martin was easily the GOAT manager.
September 22nd, 2022 at 5:09 AM ^
It all depends on which Tiger you ask. Lolich might have liked Martin, but Jim Northrup couldn't stand him, and I believe the feeling was mutual. And several Tigers players and management questioned Martin's decision to bench Willie Horton and play backup catcher Duke Sims in LF in Game 5 of the 1972 ALCS. (Both Horton and Northrup were in Martin's doghouse.)
September 22nd, 2022 at 9:22 AM ^
Billy Martin was the greatest manager in history…..if you only have a 1 year window, By the end of year 2 you were ready to fire him, and if you somehow thought it was a good idea to bring him back for year 3, you were ready to send him to Mars. He did that everywhere he went. Massive immediate improvement, but self-destruction was imminent.
September 22nd, 2022 at 11:55 AM ^
We found The Ghost of George Steinbrenner account!
September 22nd, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^
I don’t know what possessed Steinbrenner to hire him 5 times (and would’ve been more had Billy not been killed in the wreck). Once was more than plenty for everyone else that came across Billy.
September 22nd, 2022 at 7:32 AM ^
Didn't he own a donut shop or something when he retired? ?
it was a different time.
The craziest off season job I heard of was Rupert Jones (with the tigers for one season) was a funeral director.
But nothing will ever top Ricky Vaughn who was a juvenile delinquent in the offseason.
September 22nd, 2022 at 8:14 AM ^
Rusty Staub was a grave digger in the offseason... Top that!
September 22nd, 2022 at 8:47 AM ^
I thought that was Richie Hebner.
September 22nd, 2022 at 10:02 AM ^
Yes, that was definitely Hebner.
Rusty Staub, OTOH, was an accomplished chef when he wasn't adjusting his batting gloves to lace another double up one of the gaps.
September 22nd, 2022 at 9:30 AM ^
Some Hungarian named Attila was the goalie for the Hungarian national hockey team and robbed banks drunk AF in his off time. The Whiskey Robber. Topped.
September 22nd, 2022 at 7:28 AM ^
Indeed, in Game #4 in the 1968 series (which I was at), in the marquis pitching matchup between McClain and Bob Gibson of the Cardinals, it wasn't even close. McClain didn't last 3 innings, Gibson pitched a complete game, and the Tigers lost 10-1. Gibson even hit a home run to add insult to injury. Fortunately Mickey Lolich saved the Tigers in the series, leading the team to victory in 7. I hope he gets better soon.
September 22nd, 2022 at 4:01 PM ^
Also at Game 4. The weather was godawful...though, as my St Louis friend said, "Not that bad for Gibson and Brock."
Would like to note that Lolich homered in the second game. He bounded around the bases.
Would also note that to get tickets my (kindof) girlfriend and I stayed out all night long, barely slept, then rushed/stampeded with the crowd in the morning to get our 4 tickets.
Best to Mickey...he will someday be in the HOF.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:04 PM ^
Had it not been for Lolich, the '68 Tigers would have been swept in 4 straight in the Series, and would have been nothing more than a footnote in baseball history.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:13 PM ^
The Detroit Tigers do not win the 1968 World Series without #29.
Mickey is one of the most impactful athletes of my lifetime. Other than the Tiger’s exploits, 1968 was a terrible year.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:23 PM ^
They wouldn’t have even won a game, let alone the series.
Game 1: Gibson Ks 17
Game 2: Lolich evens the series
Game 3: Tigers lose again
Game 4: The almighty Denny McLain has exactly diddly-shit, there was a long rain delay, and the Cards bomb the Tigers 10-1.
Without Lolich in Game 2, that’s all she wrote. We don’t get Lou Brock trying to flatten Freehan in Game 5, we don’t get the 13-1 beating in Game 6, and Curt Flood doesn’t fall on his ass in Game 7 with Northrup at the plate.
#29 and #11 (for Freehan as well as Sparky) should have been up on the wall together a long time ago. Any of four owners (Fetzer, Monaghan, the Ilitches) could have ordered it.
Yes, the HOFers certainly should come first. But you really need to honor your champions, too. And now it’s likely too late to matter for both of them.
September 22nd, 2022 at 12:07 AM ^
Not to mention that Lolich out-dueled Bob Gibson in Game 7 and was named series MVP. Get well, Mickey.
September 22nd, 2022 at 1:59 AM ^
yep, freehan and lolich are borderline HOFers. they belong on that wall at comerica.
September 22nd, 2022 at 7:31 AM ^
As much as his pitching was unforgettable, so was his miserable hitting in the pre-DH era. Except during that '68 series, he also hit an unforgettable home run. He was amazing and deserves HOF consideration, for sure.
September 22nd, 2022 at 8:02 AM ^
Totally agree. There are two walls of fame at Comerica. The one on the left has has the Tigers in the HOF and retired numbers. The one on the right includes other prominent Tigers such as Kell, Manuch, Cochrane, Harwell, etc. Freehan and Lolich should be on Wall #1 and have their uniforms retired. They MINIMALLY should be on Wall #2!
September 22nd, 2022 at 11:39 AM ^
Thanks for your great recollection of the 1968 World Series and how Mickey Lolich was the real hero.
I hope Mickey can overcome this setback, would love to have him around for a long while. Yes, #29 should be on wall, he earned it and he deserves it.
September 22nd, 2022 at 1:19 PM ^
McLain's arm was shot by the time they got to the World series.
1968 31-6, 41 starts and 28 complete games in 336 innings. Won the Cy Young Award.
1969 24-9, 41 starts and 23 complete games in 325 innings. Won the second of back-to-back Cy Young Awards.
That's 661 innings pitched in two years. And remember, the mound was lowered from 15 inches to 10 inches in 1969.
September 22nd, 2022 at 1:45 PM ^
…at the ages of 24 and 25, too. No wonder he was out of baseball at 28.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:38 PM ^
I'm 46 so Mickey Lolich was an old legend to me, but he is why I have a '68 road "DETROIT" shirtzee.
September 22nd, 2022 at 12:09 AM ^
Objectively the greatest overall WS performance ever. Fight me (I’m a huge Detroit sports fan.) God I hope he pulls through.
September 22nd, 2022 at 2:02 AM ^
christy mathewson 1905; 3 CG shutouts.
September 22nd, 2022 at 8:33 AM ^
Bob Gibson 1967: 3 complete games, 3 runs on 14 hits in 27 innings (a 1.00 ERA), with 26 strikeouts
September 22nd, 2022 at 11:41 AM ^
Gibson was at the top of his game in 1967 and 1968. They sure don't make 'em like that any more. Very rare to see a starter go more than 6 innings these days.
September 22nd, 2022 at 12:39 PM ^
Honorable mention to center fielder Mickey Stanley who played shortstop in the 68 Series. Hard to imagine that being repeated these days.
September 22nd, 2022 at 12:25 AM ^
Father Time has an undefeated record. Best wishes for Mickey Lolich and his family. I may have a donut tomorrow in his honor.
September 22nd, 2022 at 8:34 AM ^
That's how I first heard of him when I was a kid, speaking of donuts. I remember my dad taking us to his donut shop when I was around 7 or 8 years old. It wasn't until later when I learned how great of a player he was. Get well soon, Mickey!
September 22nd, 2022 at 2:17 AM ^
I was only 5 during the 68 WS, but I don't remember it. Later when I was 7 or 8 I remember Lolich, McLain, Kaline, Northrup and Horton. A lot of good players into the early 70s. All the best to Mickey, hope he can recover back to good health.
September 22nd, 2022 at 5:44 AM ^
I had the pleasure of meeting Mickey several years ago. He was known as a pitcher with outstanding control for a left handed pitcher. He said that this might have something to do with the fact that he is actually right handed.
September 22nd, 2022 at 10:28 AM ^
I met Lolich along with several other Tigers at Fantasy Camp in '04. I remember one thing about him: During the introductory meeting on the first day, several Tigers got up to make a few remarks. Their comments were usually a little advice and a lot of jokes. (One of them said, "Don't think you're gonna have a great camp and impress somebody enough to offer you a contract. Never forget: you're all shitty." Huge laughter followed.)
When Lolich spoke, he ended his comments with this: "Please don't ask me anything about Denny McLain, because I'd like to enjoy my week." Again, big laughter. But one Tiger told us later that Mickey wasn't kidding. He couldn't stand McLain. I guess few of Denny's teammates could.
The same Tiger also suggested we not bring up Mickey's omission from the Hall of Fame. It was a sore point.
September 22nd, 2022 at 9:20 AM ^
He was before my time but definitely a name I came to know from listening to Tigers games on the radio as a kid.
Thoughts certainly with him and his family if these are his final days that he's kept comfortable.
September 22nd, 2022 at 9:21 AM ^
Remember Mickey well 1968 was the first Tiger season I truly followed the Tigers,67 was a fuzzy memory.I heard a story about the Cards not being worried about McClain but Lolich was the one that really concerned them(McCarver I think).Mickey had riot duty in 67 riots with the NG.No telling how much money he would make in today's market.Classic pic of him jumping into Freehan's arms in 68 WS.
September 22nd, 2022 at 11:47 AM ^
I grew up in Lake Orion going to Mickey Lolich Donut Shop. Great donuts. You would see Mickey in the back making donuts. They had several Tigers sign autographs during the grand opening. I remember meeting Lolich, Mickey Stanley, and Al Kaline. Pretty cool as a young kid.
September 22nd, 2022 at 12:19 PM ^
Lolich pitched the first MLB game I ever attended, a 6-0 shutout of the Yankees in 1973. The Tigers used to have autograph days and various players were stationed at tables around the stadium before the start of the game. Of course I wanted Mickey Lolich's autograph. He signed the ball I passed to him and then rolled it back across the table to me. Being a 9-year old kid I was so awestruck that one of my baseball heroes was right in front of me I just left the ball roll off the table and fall to the floor. I can still here his chuckle. Best wishes for a recovery, #29.
September 22nd, 2022 at 2:11 PM ^
Saw Mickey pitch on opening day 1972 in Tiger Stadium with my dad, behind home plate. He won the 1st of 25 wins that year. Great experience.
As for Billy Martin, he was always considered one of the best at in game strategy but was considered by many players as a horse's arse. Too much drama. Anybody who gets into a fight with a marshmallow salesman in a hotel bar is really out of control. But I did love watching him during games and how he was barking instructions at his outfielders. When sober (which wasn't often) he could really find ways to win close games.
September 22nd, 2022 at 2:38 PM ^
McClain got all the ink & all the endorsements in 68 ,69 -but Lolich was the workhorse & won that world series for us--That will likely be something never repeated in MLB -- 3 CG wins in a WS --cant even imagine one CG now--also many on the Tigers did not like McClain, some thought he cost them the pennant in 67 with his mysterious late season injury, falling off his couch--
Lolich does deserve to be in HOF, but he did not pitch in NY or in LA, and he wasn't a loud mouth schnook --just did his job everyday, & drove his motorcycle home after every game, He was even in the NG & was activated during the 1967 Detroit riots --he did have a book that he co-wrote with someone & it dealt with the 68 WS, was an interesting read.
Freehan also deserves consideration for HOF -- 11 times in AS in 15+ year career -- also I believe 5 golden glove awards & one year that he played in the AS game, might have been 67 or 68, went into extra innings & he caught the entire game ---during his career he was considered the best catcher in the American Leagure --
September 22nd, 2022 at 6:54 PM ^
Go get 'em, Detroit Tigers! God speed Mick...
September 23rd, 2022 at 6:43 PM ^
Oh the 68 Tigers and the World Series Champs. I was 11 living in SW Michigan and the Tigers were my Team even though It’s was all Cubs Cubs Cubs (Jack Brickhouse) on the Chicago TV and Radio stations. I followed the Tigers religiously with Stats weekly from the Sporting News (who remembers that) delivered to my home. Denny McClain was my hero until he flamed out a few years later with all those other issues.