Mickey Lolich, the pitcher who achieved three complete-game victories during the 1968 World Series for the Detroit Tigers, passed away at the age of 85 on Wednesday. The Tigers confirmed his death, which occurred after a brief period in hospice care, as reported by Lolich’s wife. The specific cause of his passing was not disclosed.
While Denny McLain stood out as the star pitcher for Detroit in 1968 with 31 regular-season wins, Lolich was named the Most Valuable Player of the Series. Notably, he secured a Game 7 triumph on the road against Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals with an impressive ERA of 1.67.
One iconic moment from that championship season was when Bill Freehan made the final out by catching a foul pop-up by Tim McCarver, prompting Lolich to leap into Freehan’s arms in celebration. Reflecting on his career, Lolich expressed his satisfaction to the Detroit Free Press in 2018, stating, “It was always somebody else, but my day had finally come.”
Lolich’s pitching prowess extended beyond the World Series, as he ranks 23rd in career strikeouts with 2,832, surpassing several Hall of Fame pitchers. Additionally, he holds the fifth position among left-handed pitchers, according to baseball-reference.com.
Despite being an unexpected hero in 1968, Lolich’s determination shone through. He recalled a challenging period when manager Mayo Smith relegated him to the bullpen in August, only for Lolich to return to the starting rotation and secure a 6-1 record in the final weeks of the season.
In a remarkable feat, Lolich pitched Game 7 of the World Series after just two days of rest. Although he anticipated receiving a Corvette as the Series MVP, he received a Dodge Charger GT instead due to Chrysler being the sponsor in 1968.
Since Lolich’s accomplishment, only Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 has won three games in a World Series. Lolich’s career spanned 16 years, primarily with the Detroit Tigers, where he amassed a record of 220-192, including postseason play. He concluded his baseball journey with stints at the New York Mets in 1976 and the San Diego Padres in 1978-79.
The Detroit Tigers paid tribute to Lolich, acknowledging his lasting impact and expressing condolences to his family. Following his retirement from baseball, Lolich ventured into the doughnut business in suburban Detroit, a transition he humorously highlighted in his book.
