Dennis Dale McLain (born March 29, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player. On September 19, 1968 at Tiger Stadium, Detroit right-hander Denny McLain was cruising along in the top of the eighth with a 6-1 lead over the New York Yankees. Watch. His father Tom McClain, who died when his rambunctious son was fifteen years old, was an insurance adjuster who had played . By this time, McLain had serious arm trouble, inadvertently made worse by numerous cortisone shots he took for his sore arm. He has been through ups and downs his whole life. Between his stints in prison and rehabilitation in the mid-1980s to the early-1990s, McLain could be found on various talk radio sports shows and occasionally on panel-format sports shows on network television in the Detroit area; he also modeled Hanes underwear. And it happened more than fifty years ago at The Corner in Detroit. The outstanding warrant was then discovered, for which McLain was jailed in Port Huron. "When you start naming these guys -- Bill Freehan, an 11-time all-star. This was brought to light in 1970, when the incident was reported in a Sports Illustrated article. McLain completed a 316 record along with a 1.96 earned run average, as the Tigers won the American League pennant by 12 games. [6], At the time, players with one year of service in the minor leagues were subject to a draft if they were not called up to the major leagues. [38] He returned in mid-season, but struggled to pitch well. McClain, 70, picked up the first half of the story in an interview last week. Father: Tom McLain (d. 1959 heart failure) Brother: Timmy Wife: Sharyn Boudreau (dau. Leonard Martin, 46, the semi driver, and Michael Jones, 22, who drove the pickup, each face a manslaughter charge. Sharyn and Denny later remarried in 2003, the first crucial step in helping the former MLB star turn his life around. McLain was born on March 29, 1944 on Chicago's South Side and was raised with his younger brother Timmy in the Chicago suburb of Markham. Denny McLain was born on March 29, 1944 (age 78) in Markham, Illinois, United States. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. "It took me that long. Until he stepped on the mound, you couldn't tell the man from the celebrities. In less than a week, the warrant was cleared and McLain was released. Denny is related to Pamela Corinne McLain and Tanya Leann Patterson as well as 2 additional people. "If he had not changed, if he was the same man he was when he went into prison, I wouldn't be standing here today," his wife, Sharyn, said. Denny and Sharyn's daughter, Kristin, was killed in a car crash by a drunken driver in 1992. "I believe the older you get, the more you need to put your name out there because, 'Out of sight, out of mind.' In his teens, McLain met Sharyn Boudreau, his future wife. Denny McLain poses with Sharon Tyler (and a bat he would later sign) during a meet-and-greet session held in Three Oaks at the Library and Biggest Littlle Baseball Museum on Saturday, June 22. Before Fame [48], In a 10-year major-league career, McLain won 131 games against 91 losses. However, he grabbed his second Cy Young Award, sharing it with Mike Cuellar of the Baltimore Orioles.. McLain and Sharyn married in 1963. . [6] McLain had a spectacular performance in his minor league professional baseball debut, throwing a no-hitter and striking out 16 batters in a game against the Salem Rebels on June 28. In February 1970, Sports Illustrated and Penthouse both published articles about McLain's involvement in bookmaking activities. A decade later, he was sent to prison and served time in a case that included cocaine possession. Trailing three games to two, McLain won the crucial Game 6 on just two days' rest, aided by a grand slam home run from Jim Northrup. We had a ballclub that was second to none. In January 2019 McLain and former local sportscasters Eli Zaret and Bob Page launched a podcast called No Filter Sports. "It took. [4] He had learned to fly and purchased an airplane. When we took the field for Game 7, we knew the game was over.". His feud with the manager, Ted Williams, was infamous. That is how much fun we are having.". However, the season ended with a loss for the Tigers in a hard-fought four-team pennant race among them and the Boston Red Sox, the Minnesota Twins, and the Chicago White Sox. McLain ended the season with 1716 and 3.79 ERA but remained winless after August 29. Nobody was late, nobody was looking for someone else to help. 'Whether she hit (the truck) first and (the other cars) collided with her or vice versa.'. "I've got through a lot of shame and disgrace," he said. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! McLain was suspended indefinitely by Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn; the suspension was then set for the first three months of the 1970 season. For anyone to even suggest they were the better team is just disingenuous at best. [1][47], Since McLain's 31-win season, only two other pitchers have approached the 30-game milestone (Steve Carlton won 27 games in 1972 and Bob Welch also with 27 victories in 1990). As a teen, he met his late wife, Sharon, the daughter of former Cleveland Indians player and manager Lou Boudreau. Idaho man breaks world record for fire sword throws and catches. "It never goes away; it's an every day occurrence," McLain says, noting Kristin was killed when. Denny McLain #17 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the New York Yankees during a Major League Baseball game circa 1968 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. These efforts eventually fell short. "I really enjoy being out with the fans, hearing a lot of great stories, especially here in Detroit," said McLain, who lives in Livingston County. [7] He ended the season with a 166 record, a 2.61 earned run average, and 192 strikeouts, the third-highest strikeout total in the American League behind Sam McDowell and teammate Mickey Lolich. Currently, he is the last 30-game winner. The two were convicted and McLain was sentenced to prison for 8 years and 1 month, on charges of "conspiracy, mail fraud, theft of pension, and money laundering". He searched for ways to make more revenue and involved himself in illegal activities. [39] Kuhn actually had to clear the trade because McLain was still under suspension, and suspended players cannot be traded without the commissioner's permission. Kristin McLain '92. It was the greatest example of teamwork I have seen.". His role in the teams victory at The World Series against starter Bob Gibson-led St. Period. Denny and Sharyn's daughter, Kristin, was killed in a car crash by a drunken driver in 1992. [55], On April 11, 2008, McLain was arrested without incident after deputies discovered an outstanding warrant against him for failing to appear for a January 16 court hearing. He had a one-season stint with the London Majors, in Ontario, Canada. The fund had over 12 million dollars, sucked down to 9 million after McLain and partner took over. I met McLain on Jan. 31, 2015, at a sports card show at the American Legion Hall in Sebastian, Fla. Richard Stone, who produces the show . Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Authorities in Maine said one bison remained on the loose Tuesday after three of the animals were seen running loose on a road Monday. Denny McLain celebrates a 1968 victory. [41] After only five starts, one win, and a 6.04 ERA, the Athletics sent him to the minor leagues on May 15. "There wasn't anything good about it. Later, Tom also worked as a truck driver, an insurance advisor, and an electric-organ teacher. The season of 1968 was arguably the best for McLain. [21] Other accounts said that he called catcher Jim Price to the mound and had him tell Mantle that he would be throwing only fastballs. "Two things can happen," his doctors said. He has been convicted multiple times for crimes as serious as money laundering, theft, mail fraud, embezzlement, racketeering, extortion, and cocaine trafficking. MLB.TV Buy MLB.TV Buy At Bat MLB . As a teenager he met his future wife, Sharyn Boudreau, the daughter of former major league player Lou Boudreau.McLain was also musically talented, learning to play the organ from his father. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. [1][37] It was the last award of his major league career.[1]. | Source: Getty Images. - photo by David Johnson . Part of what makes life fulfilling for McLain now is that he gets to remain involved with the game he fell in love with at an early age growing up in the suburbs of Chicago. "It was not a nice experience," Denny said of prison. "It's crazy how far people come out of their way to say hello. [12] After the record home-run year by Roger Maris in 1961, the major leagues increased the size of the strike zone from the top of the batter's shoulders to the bottom of the knees. I had to live through that, but life is good now. McLain later served time in prison for cocaine possession, embezzlement and money laundering. His performance earned him the role of starter pitcher in the years All-Star Game. He retired all the nine batters he faced in just 28 pitches. McLain's wife and four children were also present at the hearing, which granted him freedom from jail and put him on probation. [4] The White Sox left McLain in the minor leagues, and he was selected off waivers by the Detroit Tigers on April 8, 1963. This event was covered nationally by outlets such as ESPN and the Associated Press.[59][60][61]. McLain especially loves to debate anyone who says that St. Louis was a better team than them. Video Film Room Hub Statcast MLB Network MLB Originals Podcasts. [1][13] On September 18, McLain reported that he had severely injured two toes on his left foot, saying that he had stubbed them after his foot had fallen asleep. After a string of poor performances in 1967, he revealed on September 18 that year that he had injured two toes of his left foot. His main focus is taking care of Sharyn, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease, a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. I say this a lot, but I wish everyone could take one day and walk in my shoes. [4], In 1966, McLain had a 134 mid-season record and earned the role of American League starting pitcher in the 1966 All-Star Game, where he threw just 28 pitches to retire all nine batters that he faced. He held the White Sox to an earned run on 7 hits, picked off two baserunners, and hit a home run. Denny McLain #31 of the Oakland Athletics talks with a young fan prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game circa 1972. Denny McLain was born on March 29, 1944, in Chicago. Dennis Dale McLain (born March 29, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player. Try 7 Days Free to get access to 836 million+ pages. McLain's demise began during his playing career. [12] As a result of the dropping offensive statistics, Major League Baseball took steps to reduce the advantage held by pitchers by lowering the height of the pitcher's mound from 15 inches to 10, and by reducing the size of the strike zone for the 1969 season. If you are a fan of Denny McLain, tell us more about Him Advertisement. In October 2020, McLain held an estate sale hosted by Aaron's Estate Sales. That one exception happened 50 years ago, in 1968, when Denny McLain won 31 games with the World Champion Detroit Tigers. [41] Due to his arm troubles and his inability to get along with Williams, McLain went 1022. With a 316 finish, he became the only pitcher after Dizzy Dean (1934) to have achieved this feat. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. McLains first brush with the law occurred in 1967, when he got involved with bookmaking. WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- The daughter of fallen baseball hero Denny McLain was killed early Friday in a fiery traffic accident when the newlywed's car struck a steel-hauling truck.. Reverend Skip Rainbolt of Fillmore Baptist . His doctors presented him with the reality that could be either of two outcomes. Sports Illustrated cited sources who alleged that the foot injury suffered by McLain late in 1967 was caused by an organized crime figure who stomped on McLain's foot as punishment for failing to pay off on a lost bet. Even today I will have some bad days that will shock the hell out of people. They spent much of the season feuding over Williams' use of a then-unusual five-man rotation for his starters. [4] Going into the final game of the season against the California Angels, the Tigers needed a victory to force a one-game playoff with the Red Sox for the American League pennant. McLain won 31 games in 1968 and led the Detroit Tigers to the World Series championship. background-image:unset; Kevin Costner's character in the 2005 film The Upside of Anger was partly based on McLain (and also partly on Kirk Gibson, another Tiger of World Series note). But even his best friends wouldn't recognize him today. In January 1969, McLain was selected as the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. From being drafted out of High school, to making it to the big leagues at 19 years old, losing his dad at 13, his wife Sharyn daughter of Lou Boudreau of 51 one years, a 30 game winner, World Series Champion, in 1968 pitched 336 innings and 28 complete . Sutherland's vehicle struck the steel hauler at the back wheels and caught fire, trapping her inside. He is the older of two boys born to Tom and Betty McLain, Irish Catholics from Chicago's south side, who married at 18. He had 280 strikeouts and 63 walks, giving him a 4.44 K:BB ratio, a Tigers season record that stood until 2016, when it was eclipsed by Justin Verlander. Senators broadcaster Shelby Whitfield later told Rob Neyer that when Williams yanked McLain early from a July 5 game against the Cleveland Indians, McLain threatened to call Senators owner Bob Short and have him get rid of Williams.[41]. They were there for each other. Denny McLain Position: Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-1 , 185lb (185cm, 83kg) Born: March 29, 1944 (Age: 78-328d) in Chicago, IL us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info MVP 2x Cy Young 3x All-Star 1968 World Series ML PoY 34 17 17 17 30 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. His final major league appearance came on September 12 against the Cincinnati Reds; he came into a tied game in the ninth and promptly gave up three runs without retiring a batter, taking the loss. His last major-league game was on September 12, 1972, against the Cincinnati Reds. The Braves released him on March 26, 1973. )[1] The Braves released McLain during spring training, on March 26, 1973. In 1973, he was out of the major leagues. Dennis Dale McLain was born in Markham, Illinois, March 29-the same date as Cy Young [Daily Dose, March 17] in 1944. 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