Mickey Lolich, the pitcher for the Detroit Tigers who achieved three complete-game wins in the 1968 World Series, passed away at the age of 85 on Wednesday. The Tigers confirmed his death, which occurred following a brief period in hospice care, though the specific cause was not disclosed.
While Denny McLain was the standout pitcher for Detroit in 1968, winning 31 games in the regular season, Lolich played a crucial role in the Series. He was named the Most Valuable Player with an impressive ERA of 1.67 and notably secured a Game 7 victory against Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals on the road.
An iconic moment from the championship season was captured when Bill Freehan caught a foul pop-up by Tim McCarver for the final out, prompting Lolich to leap into Freehan’s arms in celebration. Reflecting on his success, Lolich expressed to the Detroit Free Press in 2018 that he felt his time to shine had finally arrived.
Lolich, ranked 23rd in career strikeouts with 2,832, surpassed many Hall of Famers and stood as the fifth-highest left-handed pitcher in strikeouts, as per baseball-reference.com data.
In an unexpected turn of events in 1968, Lolich emerged as a hero for the Tigers. Despite being temporarily assigned to the bullpen by manager Mayo Smith, Lolich returned to the starting rotation and finished the season with a 6-1 record. He later excelled in the World Series, pitching in Game 7 with only two days of rest.
Following his outstanding performance, Lolich had high hopes of receiving a Corvette for being the Series MVP but was awarded a Dodge Charger GT due to Chrysler’s sponsorship that year. Despite already owning two Chargers, Lolich welcomed the new addition graciously.
Since Lolich’s achievement, only Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks replicated the feat by winning three games in a World Series in 2001, albeit as a relief pitcher in Game 7. Lolich concluded his 16-year career, primarily with the Tigers, boasting a record of 220-192, including postseason play.
The Tigers extended their condolences to Lolich’s family, recognizing his enduring legacy. Following his baseball career, Lolich transitioned into the doughnut business, operating in suburban Detroit for 18 years, a unique career shift that he humorously acknowledged in his book.