Mickey Lolich

Lore & Background

Lolich was born in Portland, Oregon, on September 12, 1940, and was of Croatian descent. He was born right-handed, but began to throw left-handed after a childhood accident. At age two, he rode his tricycle into a parked motorcycle, which fell on him, breaking his left collarbone and requiring a cast for four months. Post-injury efforts to strengthen the left arm helped him develop into throwing left-handed. A sportswriter in 1964 wrote: 'He now eats, writes and bats right-handed, pitches left-handed and thinks sideways.' He excelled in American Legion Baseball and the Babe Ruth League, setting Oregon state records for strikeouts. He attended Lincoln High School in Portland and posted a 19–5 record in 1958. Signed by the Tigers as an amateur free agent on June 30, 1958, he began his professional career with the Knoxville Smokies and Durham Bulls, compiling a 17–29 record in 82 games over 1959–1961. After a poor start with Triple-A Denver in 1962 (0–4, 16.50 ERA), he refused reassignment to Knoxville and was suspended. He returned to Oregon, struck out all 12 batters in a semi-pro outing, then was acquired by the Portland Beavers, where he turned his career around with a 10–9 record and 3.95 ERA. Reclaimed by Detroit in 1963, he reported late to spring training and was optioned to Syracuse before being recalled on May 9. He made his MLB debut on May 12 and secured his first win on May 28. He finished 1963 with a 5–9 record, 3.55 ERA, and 103 strikeouts. In 1964 he blossomed to 18–9 with a 3.41 ERA, pitching his first shutout on April 24. He married Joyce Fleenor in November 1964. In 1965 he went 15–9 with a 3.44 ERA and 226 strikeouts. He regressed in 1966 (14–14, 4.77 ERA), attributing it to loss of concentration. In 1967, under pitching coach Johnny Sain, he went 14–13 with a league-leading six shutouts and a 3.04 ERA. In late July 1967, he was called to active duty with the Michigan Air National Guard during the Detroit riot, spending twelve days on duty and being promoted to Airman First Class. He received death threats upon return, prompting FBI snipers on the Tiger Stadium roof for his next two starts. In 1968, Lolich posted a 17–9 record with 197 strikeouts as the Tigers won the AL pennant. In the World Series, after Bob Gibson defeated Denny McLain in Game 1, Lolich pitched a complete game in Game 2, allowing one run in an 8–1 win and hitting the only

In Their Own Story

The October air at Tiger Stadium was thick and cold, the kind that makes your breath ghost out of your mouth even in September. Lolich stood in the stretch, left hand tucked under his armpit, the ball a white blur in his right hand. The Cardinals' batter loaded the zone, eyes locked on the lefty's release point. Lolich's arm came over in that slow, deceptively easy motion, and the curveball broke so sharply it seemed to fold in on itself. The bat swung through air. The crowd's roar hit the pitcher like a physical wave, and Lolich just nodded, wiped his forehead, and walked back to the mound for the next batter. He did not need to raise his voice. He did not need to celebrate. He simply needed to keep pitching, one breaking ball at a time, until the final out. And he did.

Reader's Guide

Lolich's career spanned 1963 to 1979, almost entirely with the Detroit Tigers. He was a three-time All-Star and won at least 14 games every year from 1964 through 1974. He struck out at least 200 batters seven times. His 1968 World Series MVP performance included three complete-game victories, with the Tigers rallying from a 3–1 deficit to win the series 4–3. He was runner-up for the 1971 AL Cy Young Award after leading the league in wins (25), strikeouts (308), complete games (29), and innings pitched (376). He set team records with 45 games started and 308 strikeouts in 1971. He helped lead the Tigers to a 1972 division title with 22 victories. By 1975, he ranked fifth in major league history in career strikeouts; his final total of 2,832 placed him seventh at retirement. He held the major league record for career strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher from 1975 to 1980, and the AL record from 1973 to 2017. He holds Tigers franchise records for strikeouts (2,679), games started (459), and shutouts (39); his 207 wins and innings pitched for Detroit are franchise records for a left-hander, and his 508 games pitched were a franchise record until 1979.

Did You Know?

• Lolich was born right-handed but began throwing left-handed after a tricycle accident at age two broke his left collarbone.
• He hit the only home run of his 16-year career during Game 2 of the 1968 World Series.
• In 1967, after being called to active duty during the Detroit riot, he received death threats, prompting FBI snipers on the roof of Tiger Stadium for his next two starts.
• He held the major league record for career strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher from 1975 until Steve Carlton passed him in 1980.
• Lolich's 2,679 strikeouts for the Tigers remain a franchise record.