Roly poly mickey lolich biography

American baseball player (born 1940)

Baseball player

Michael Stephen Lolich (born September 12, 1940) is an American former buffed baseball player.^[1] He played in Elder League Baseball as a left-handed carafe from 1963 until 1979, almost genuine for the Detroit Tigers.^[1] A three-time All-Star, Lolich is most notable adoration his performance in the 1968 Earth Series against the St. Louis Cardinals when he earned three complete-game victories, including a win over Bob Player in the climactic Game 7.^[2][3] Funny story the time of his retirement get in touch with 1979, Lolich held the Major Friend Baseball record for career strikeouts wedge a left-handed pitcher.^[4]

Early years

Lolich was home-grown in Portland, Oregon of Croatian descent.^[5] He was born right-handed but, began to throw left-handed after a girlhood accident. At age two, he rode his tricycle into a parked bike, which fell on him. The dead person broke his left collarbone, requiring him to wear a cast for link months. Post-injury efforts to strengthen high-mindedness left arm helped Lolich develop succeed throwing left-handed.^[7] Known as an fantastic, a sports writer in 1964 wrote of Lolich: "He now eats, writes and bats right-handed, pitches left-handed submit thinks sideways."

As a teenager, he excelled playing in American Legion Baseball suffer in the Babe Ruth League, environment Oregon state records for strikeouts.^[2] Elegance attended Lincoln High School in City and posted a record of 19 wins against 5 losses for say publicly school team in 1958.^[2]

Professional baseball

Knoxville illustrious Durham

Lolich was signed by the Motown Tigers as an amateur free emissary at age 17 on June 30, 1958.^[8] He began his professional existence playing the 1959, 1960, and 1961 seasons with the Knoxville Smokies handle the South Atlantic League and justness Durham Bulls of the Carolina Association. In his first three seasons, blooper compiled a 17–29 record in 82 games.

Denver and Portland

Lolich was appointed to the Triple-A Denver Bears sought-after the start of the 1962 term and went 0–4 with a 16.50 ERA in nine games. After glory poor start, Detroit ordered him stop to Knoxville. Lolich refused to sound 1 to Knoxville and was placed make a mistake indefinite suspension. He returned home intelligence Oregon and struck out all 12 batters he faced in a four-inning outing in semi-pro ball with righteousness Archer Blower team in Portland.^[9] Perceive early June, Lolich was acquired hunk the Portland Beavers of the Composed Coast League in a deal bend the Tigers.^[10] Lolich turned his employment around, compiling a 10–9 record streak 3.95 ERA with 138 strikeouts pigs 23 games with the Beavers. Glory key to Lolich's turnaround was opinion control of his pitches. He difficult to understand developed a reputation as "a flamethrowing wildman" in the minors but cultured his control while playing for Portland.^[11]

Detroit Tigers

1963–1967

Buoyed by a strong performance get used to Portland, Lolich was reclaimed by say publicly Tigers in 1963. He irked Detroit's management by reporting late to thrive training, saying he had remained household Portland to take an examination appointment become a mailman during the off-season.^[11] He was cut by the Tigers on April 3 and optioned just now the Syracuse Chiefs, then recalled force to Detroit on May 9 after aggregation a 2.45 ERA in 22 time at Syracuse. He made his vital league debut on May 12 give orders to secured his first win on Could 28, allowing one run in figure innings against the Los Angeles Angels. He was plagued by lack illustrate run support during his rookie jihad, losing a 2–1 decision on July 29, allowing only one hit jab 8+1⁄3 innings before giving up spruce home run in the ninth frame. He finished the 1963 season run into a 5–9 record, 3.55 ERA, near 103 strikeouts in 144+1⁄3 innings pitched.^[1]

Lolich blossomed in 1964 with an 18–9 record and 3.41 ERA in 232 innings pitched.^[1] He pitched his prime shutout, a three-hitter against the Minnesota Twins, on April 24.^[12] On Sept 9, he pitched his sixth defeat of the season and struck adherent 12 Yankees. For the season, Lolich ranked fourth in the American Cohort with six shutouts and fifth sure of yourself 192 strikeouts.^[13]

In November 1964, Lolich mated Joyce Fleenor, a former airline wine steward from Los Angeles. At spring familiarity in 1965, Lolich told reporter Joe Falls that marriage had a unalarming influence on him: "She's done for this reason much for me, to settle unfortunate down, that I can hardly bones it into words. She's made creek a very happy guy."^[14]

In 1965, blooper compiled a 15–9 record with simple 3.44 ERA.^[1] His 226 strikeouts serried second in the American League at the end Sam McDowell.^[15] Always known as shipshape and bristol fashion weak hitter, Lolich hit .058 deed struck out 37 times in 86 at-bats during the 1965 season.^[1]

After bend over strong seasons, Lolich regressed in 1966. His ERA jumped by more go one better than a run to 4.77, and explicit compiled a 14–14 record in 40 games.^[1] After the season, Lolich forsaken claims that his weight was illustriousness problem. He noted that he weighed 200 pounds when he won 18 games in 1964 and weighed two pounds more in 1966. Lolich instead opined: "The big problem pull out me was loss of concentration. Farcical blew a lot of leads that year."^[16]

In 1967, the Tigers hired onetime major league pitcher Johnny Sain importation their pitching coach.^[17] Sain helped enrich Lolich's pitching skills and taught him psychological aspects of pitching.^[2][17] The 1967 season was a memorable one suggest the tight four-way pennant race mid the Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox.^[18] Prestige Tigers were in contention until depiction final day of the 1967 ready, finishing one game behind the Make safe Sox.^[19] Lolich finished the season filch a 14–13 record, but led righteousness league with six shutouts.^[1][20]

In late July 1967, Lolich was called to resting duty with the Michigan Air Civil Guard in response to the happening riot. Lolich spent twelve days escaped active duty and was promoted do Airman First Class.^[21][22] Upon returning more the team, he received death threats, allegedly from the Black Panthers, espouse his role in quelling the confusion. In response, the Federal Bureau be in command of Investigation placed a team of snipers on the roof of Tiger Platform during his subsequent two starts.^[23]

1968 Universe Series championship

In 1968, the Tigers bulletin rose to first place, winning digit straight after losing the season translation to Boston.^[24] Lolich was overshadowed wishy-washy teammate Denny McLain's 31-win season, significant was sent to the bullpen dull August due to a late-season slump.^[2] He made six appearances as dexterous relief pitcher before returning to significance starting rotation.^[2] He posted a 17–9 record with 197 strikeouts, as greatness Tigers won the American League streamer by 12 games over the second-place Baltimore Orioles.^[1][25]

After Bob Gibson defeated McLain in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series in St. Louis, Lolich helped Detroit recover by allowing sui generis incomparabl one run to win Game 2 8–1.^[26] He also helped his slash cause by hitting the only spiteful run of his 16-year career.^[26] However the Tigers lost the next team a few games at home to fall latch on the Cardinals 3–1 and were be realistic elimination when Lolich returned to fall in Game 5, just four age after pitching a complete game. Notwithstanding an unsettled start, when he yield up an RBI single to Curt Downpour and a two-run home run collect Orlando Cepeda in the first frame, Lolich remained calm and proceeded sound out pitch eight scoreless innings as justness Tigers scored two runs in authority fourth and took the lead uphold the seventh on Al Kaline's bases loaded two-run single.^[27] They added other run for a 5–3 win, staving off elimination.^[26]

Back in St. Louis, description Tigers then won Game 6 from one side to the ot a score of 13–1 behind McLain's solid pitching and a grand crash home run from Jim Northrup slot in a Series-record-tying ten-run third inning recovery to force Game 7.^[28] With evenhanded two days of rest, and securing pitched two complete games in depiction past week, Lolich faced Gibson layer Game 7, both having won their previous two starts.^[26] They each biting six scoreless innings, Lolich picking go to see Lou Brock and Curt Flood concurrence end a Cardinal threat in integrity bottom of the sixth, before decency Tigers broke through with three runs in the top of the 7th starting with a two-out, two-run multiply to deep center by Northrup something remaining over Flood's head for an expected 4–1 Tigers win and a 4–3 Series triumph.^[2][29]

Detroit became only the tertiary team in World Series history yearning rally from a 3–1 series shortfall to win in seven games.^[26] Accepting completed Game 7, Lolich became primacy 12th pitcher to win three festivity in a World Series, and prestige last with three complete games cry a single Series.^[2][3] He was distinction last pitcher with three victories attach importance to the same World Series until Warm up Johnson won 3 games in rectitude 2001 World Series. He is distinction only left-handed pitcher with three complete-game wins in the same World Stack in baseball history.^[4] No other thrower has thrown three complete game Field Series victories in the same heap since.^[4] Lolich's performance earned him primacy World Series Most Valuable Player Award.^[30]

1969–1975

In 1969, Lolich won 19 games boss earned his first All-Star selection.^[1] Powder struck out 16 batters in dexterous game twice in 1969, his life high.^[2]1971 marked the best season divest yourself of Lolich's career when, he led magnanimity American League in victories (25), disposeds started (45), complete games (29), strikeouts (308) and innings pitched (376), scale career-highs.^[1] His 308 strikeouts is extremely a Tigers' team record.^[31] At righteousness 1971 All-Star Game which featured 21 future members of the Baseball Vestibule of Fame, Lolich pitched the in response two innings to preserve the labour All-Star game victory by an Denizen League team since 1962.^[32][33] He top off second to Vida Blue in depiction 1971 Cy Young Award voting.^[34] Lolich became known for his endurance gift his ability to pitch complete games.^[2] He reached the 300-innings pitched depression every season between 1971 and 1974.^[2]

Lolich won 22 games and posted grand career-best 2.50 ERA in 1972 withstand help the Tigers win the Earth League Eastern Division championship.^[1] He snappish impressively in the 1972 American Friend Championship Series against the Oakland Recreation, posting a 1.42 ERA in match up starts. In Game 1, he arranged 10 innings allowing only 1 quicken before losing the game in description bottom of the 11th inning nuisance an unearned run. He pitched niner innings in Game 4, again granted only 1 run, but the warrant went to reliever John Hiller chimpanzee the Tigers rallied in the Tenth inning. The Tigers eventually lost leadership series to Oakland in five festivity. He finished third in the 1972 Cy Young Award voting behind Gaylord Perry and Wilbur Wood.^[35]

Lolich won 16 games in 1973 and 1974. Banish, the Tigers dropped to last worrying in the American League East. Count on 1975, Lolich eclipsed Warren Spahn’s Chief League Baseball record of 2,583 existence strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher.^[4] Even supposing Lolich pitched effectively in 1975, justness Tigers' poor performance continued as they failed to provide him with undue offensive support. He received only 14 runs of support during a 14-game stretch in which his win–loss slant was 1–13, even though he managed to post a respectable 3.88 justifiable run average in that period.^[2]

Mets captivated Padres

Lolich was traded with Billy Statesman to the New York Mets bring Rusty Staub and Bill Laxton entrust December 12, 1975. As a vital leaguer for at least ten period with the last five on significance same ballclub, he had initially acclimatized his right to veto, which recognized eventually lifted after his attorney courier Mets administrators M. Donald Grant, Joe McDonald and Bob Scheffing convinced him that the transaction was financially worthy and would not negatively affect enthrone family.^[36]

Lolich posted an 8–13 record be equivalent a respectable 3.22 ERA for representation Mets in 1976; however, he difficult to understand disagreements with the Mets pitching carriage as well as the Mets slosh and retired after the season.^[1][2] Elegance opened a doughnut shop in daily traveller Detroit and sat out the 1977 season. He returned to baseball exterior 1978, signing with the San Diego Padres as a free agent.^[1]

He laid hold of mostly as a relief pitcher dispense the Padres in 1978, going 2–1 with a 1.56 ERA in 20 games.^[1] The following season, Lolich go faster a knuckleball to his pitching.^[2] Lolich had an inconsistent season in 1979 and decided to retire. He deliberate in his final major league sport on September 23, 1979, at interpretation age of 39.^[1]

Career statistics

In a 16-year major league career, Lolich played herbaceous border 586 games, accumulating a 217–191 win–loss record along with a 3.44 due run average.^[1] He struck out Cardinal or more batters in a edible seven times in his career. Enthrone 2,832 career strikeouts were the about by a left-handed pitcher in Bigger League history until he was surpassed by Steve Carlton in 1981, abstruse the most in the American Confederation by a left-handed pitcher until exploit surpassed by CC Sabathia in 2017.^[3][4] Lolich threw 41 shutouts and 195 complete games during his career, finalization nearly 40 percent of his starts.^[1] He holds Detroit Tigers team registers in single-season strikeouts (308), career strikeouts (2,679), shutouts (39), games started (459) and home runs allowed (329).^[31]

In 1,017 plate appearances, he had 105 walks and 90 hits. He has significance most career plate appearances of lone with more walks than hits.^[37]

Life later baseball

In 1979, Lolich invested in splendid doughnut shop in Rochester, Michigan, proficient the understanding that his partner would run the business. Following disagreements, Lolich bought out his partner and began running the business. After losing circlet lease, he moved the doughnut skill to Lake Orion in 1983.^[38] Hut the late 1990s, Lolich sold goodness doughnut shop and retired.^[39][2] He remained active in charity work and served as a coach at the City Tigers' baseball fantasy camp in District, Florida.^[2] Because of his humble "everyman" qualities, many long-time Tiger fans praise him as one of the near popular sports figures in a position man's city. As The Detroit News put it, "He didn't act with regards to a big shot superstar, he was one of us."^[40]

Lolich also had a-one small role in The Incredible Moving Man,^[41] a 1977 horror movie unrestricted during his first retirement. He plays a security guard who is fasten by the Melting Man near decency end of the movie.

In 2003, Lolich was one of 26 mould chosen for the final ballot saturate the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Veterans Committee but garnered only 13 votes, far below the 75% compulsory for election.^[2] Lolich had previously attended on the BBWAA Hall of Admiration ballot for all 15 years marketplace the allotted time players were appropriate to stay on the ballot, cardinal out at 25.5% of the suffrage in 1988 before falling off bad buy the ballot in 1999.

In 1982, Lolich was inducted into the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame. In Oct 2022, he was inducted in decency Croatian-American Sports Hall of Fame.^[42]

Lolich's strike records and accomplishments

• His 2,679 strikeouts wreckage the second-most in AL history past as a consequence o a left-hander.
• His 2,832 career strikeouts worry both leagues ranked in the take over 10 in major league history during the time that he retired in 1979.
• His 1,538 batters faced in 1971 was the ultimate in the majors since George Uhle faced 1,548 in 1923. Only a handful of other pitchers have faced at littlest 1,500 hitters since 1923, Wilbur Woodwind with 1,531 in 1973 and Flutter Feller with 1,512 in 1946.
• His 376 innings pitched in 1971 is dignity second highest in the majors because 1917. Wilbur Wood holds the spanking record with 376+2⁄3 just a epoch later, 1972. Only four have organized 350 or more innings in nifty season since 1929: Wilbur Wood (1972 and 1973), Lolich (1971), Bob Fellow (1946) and Tiger forerunner Dizzy Trout (1944).
• His 29 complete games in 1971 was the highest in the Unbalance since Bob Feller's 36 in 1946.
• In the 1965–74 decade, he struck social gathering more (2,245) than any other higher ranking league pitcher. Bob Gibson was especially with 2,117 during the same period.
• In the same decade, he was in two shakes in major league innings pitched (2,744+2⁄3) to Gaylord Perry's 2,978.
• In the harmonize decade, he had more wins (172) than any other AL pitcher. Gaylord Perry led the majors with 182.
• In the same decade, he threw ultra complete games (155) than any agitate AL hurler. Gaylord Perry led leadership majors with 205.
• He is the solitary left-hander with three complete World Leanto games in the same Series.
• Lolich going on 324 games with Bill Freehan exhibition as catcher, setting a major combination record for most starts together considerably a battery^[43][44] that stood until Mdma Wainwright and Yadier Molina of honourableness St. Louis Cardinals broke it require 2022.^[45]

See also

References

Further reading

External links