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Denny McLain

Baseball Pitcher Denny McLain

Full Name: Dennis Dale McLain
Profession: Baseball Pitcher

Nationality:
United States of America
American

Biography: Denny McLain was an outstanding American baseball pitcher in the 1960s and 70s.

His Major League Baseball career spanned 10 seasons, most notably for the Detroit Tigers with whom in 1968 he became the most recent MLB pitcher to win 30 or more games during a season (31–6). It's a feat accomplished by only 11 players in the 20th century.

The 3-time All Star had stellar seasons in 1968 and 1969 which included consecutive AL Cy Young awards and AL wins leader titles; as well as a World Series victory and AL MVP in 1968.

Often brash, outspoken and sometimes controversial McLain was associated with organised crime, serving time in prison when convicted of drug trafficking, embezzlement and racketeering.

Since a premature retirement from baseball at just 29, McLain has dabbled in radio, television and music.

Born: March 29, 1944
Birthplace: Markham, Illinois, USA
Age: 80 years old

Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey
Star Sign: Aries

Historical Events

  • 1963-04-08 Detroit Tigers claim young pitcher Denny McLain on waivers from the Chicago White Sox; McLain goes on the win Cy Young Award 1968, 69 and AL MVP 1968
  • 1965-06-15 Detroit pitcher Denny McLain in relief strikes out first 7 batters faced & records 14 in 6 2/3 innings in Tigers 6-5 win over Boston Red Sox; Bill Freehan ties catcher record of 19 putouts
  • 1968-09-14 MLB Detroit Tigers' Denny McLain's 30th victory of season
  • 1968-09-19 MLB Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain's 31st win of the season, despite Mickey Mantle's 535th career home run, at Tiger Stadium in Detroit
  • 1968-10-02 First time, two soon-to-be-named MVPs oppose each other - St. Louis Cardinals Bob Gibson beats Detroit Tigers Denny McLain 4-0 in Game 1 of World Series at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis
  • 1968-11-01 MLB Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain is named unanimous AL Cy Young Award winner after finishing MLB season, 31-6 for World Series winning Tigers
  • 1968-11-05 MLB Detroit Tigers Denny McLain 1st AL pitcher to win MVP, winning unanimously
  • 1970-02-19 AL Cy Young Award winner Denny McLain suspended for bookmaking
  • 1970-09-09 MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain for carrying a gun
  • 1984-03-19 Two-time Cy Young Award winner Denny McLain is indicted on charges of drug trafficking, embezzlement and racketeering; 25 year sentence later quashed
  • 1985-03-16 Two-time Cy Young Award winner Denny McLain is convicted of embezzlement and drug trafficking; sentenced to 25 years but conviction later reversed

Biographies and Sources


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