Mickey Lolich, a celebrated figure from the Detroit Tigers and a key player in the 1968 World Series, has passed away at the age of 85. Known for his remarkable achievement of securing three complete-game victories in that series, he remains the last Major League Baseball pitcher to accomplish such a feat. His passing was confirmed by the Tigers, who relayed that his wife informed them he had died following a brief period in hospice care, though the specific cause of death was not disclosed.
In 1968, Denny McLain shone brightly as the star pitcher for the Tigers, achieving an impressive 31 wins during the regular season. However, it was Lolich who emerged as the Most Valuable Player of the World Series, boasting an earned run average (ERA) of 1.67 and delivering a pivotal Game 7 victory against the renowned Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals. The series concluded with Bill Freehan, the catcher, making a memorable final catch from Tim McCarver, leading to an iconic moment as Lolich leapt into Freehan's arms—a defining image of Detroit's triumphant season.
Reflecting on his journey, Lolich shared with the Detroit Free Press in 2018, "It was always somebody else, but my day had finally come." With a career total of 2,832 strikeouts, he ranks 23rd among all-time pitchers, surpassing many Hall of Fame inductees, while being positioned fifth among left-handed pitchers according to baseball-reference.com.
Lolich’s rise to stardom was unexpected; during a reunion of the World Series team, he reminisced about a time in August when manager Mayo Smith had relegated him to the bullpen. Frustrated but determined, he returned to the starting rotation and finished the season strong with a 6-1 record in the closing weeks. He remarked, "I was having a few problems, but I had been a starting pitcher ever since 1964. I remember telling him, ‘If we win this thing this year it’s going to be because of me.’ But I was only talking about the season. I wasn’t talking about the World Series. I got my revenge back in the World Series," he said, alluding to his stellar performance.
Lolich took the mound for Game 7 after a mere two days of rest, anticipating a potential reward of a Corvette from General Motors for his MVP status. Instead, he received a Dodge Charger GT, which was sponsored by Chrysler at the time. "Nothing against Chargers, nothing at all," he stated in his book, "Joy in Tigertown," adding humorously that he already owned two of them.
Since Lolich’s remarkable performance in 1968, only two pitchers have matched the feat of winning three games in a single World Series: Randy Johnson of Arizona in 2001 and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025. However, it’s worth noting that both achieved their victories in relief roles and pitched fewer innings than Lolich.
Over the course of his 16-year career, primarily spent with the Detroit Tigers, Lolich recorded a win-loss record of 220-192, including postseason play. After a stint with the New York Mets in 1976, he paused his baseball career before making a comeback with the San Diego Padres in 1978 and 1979. Notably, in 1971, he achieved a stellar record of 25-14, striking out 308 batters across 376 innings, which earned him a runner-up position in the American League Cy Young Award voting. He followed that successful season with a 22-14 record and 250 strikeouts in 1972.
The Tigers organization extended its condolences to Lolich’s family, emphasizing that his legacy will be cherished forever.
After retiring from baseball, Lolich transitioned into the doughnut business in the suburbs of Detroit, where he spent 18 years producing and selling these sweet treats. "I doubt any other ballplayer has ever made that transition—from the diamond to doughnuts. But I did," he humorously noted in his memoir.
AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report. For more updates, you can follow Ed White on Twitter at http://twitter.com/edwritez.
