Mickey Lolich has passed away.

[MIButterfly]

He was the hero of the 1968 Tigers/Cardinals World Series. I remember watching the games at school; back then, the World Series games were all day games and it was a big deal to have the Tigers in the Series for the first time in 23 years. Denny McLain was the bigger deal, but Mickey Lolich came out the hero in that seventh game.

RIP, Mr. Lolich. You were great. Thanks for the memories.

[LisaM]

1. He pitched the first game I ever saw in person, in 1972.

It was at Tiger Stadium, against the Orioles, and it was chock full of stars, including Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer. Earl Weaver was the manager of the Orioles and the Tigers still had Kaline and Northrup and Cash and Feeehan. Even then, I knew how lucky I was to see all those players (and the Tigers won).

We watched the 68 series on big TVs in the gym, too.

[MIButterfly]

2. What a great memory, LisaM!

Thank you for sharing it with us!

[rsdsharp]

3. Before the Series, the Cardinals asked Roger Maris, who had spent most of his career in the American League,

how to approach the Tigers — especially Denny McClain who had won 31 games that year. Maris told them they could handle McClain; it was Mickey Lolich they had to worry about.

McClain went 1-2 in the Series. Lolich was 3-0, and won the Series MVP.

[MIButterfly]

4. And he had just pitched three days before!

He won on Monday and then won again on Thursday! All his victories in the World Series were complete games. Catcher Bill Freehan said that he could catch Denny McLain with his bare hand, but Lolich "killed" him. He had to wear a rubber glove and a wrap around his hand because it was swollen after every time he caught him.

[rsdsharp]

5. Jim Kaat was the same way with the Twins. His catcher,

Earl Battey (my favorite player) said Kaat threw a “heavy ball.” He showed me his hands (this was in the off season) and his left hand was twice as thick as his right.