Mickey Lolich, Detroit Tigers legend, dominates 1968 World Series pitching. [Image Source: S-NBCNEWS]
Mickey Lolich, famed for his three complete-game wins for the Detroit Tigers during the 1968 World Series, passed away on Wednesday at age 85. A key figure in Major League Baseball history and the last pitcher to achieve such a feat in the World Series, he died following a brief period in hospice care, according to the Tigers, though the exact cause was not disclosed.
Known as Mickey Lolich Detroit Tigers’ standout, his performance in the 1968 Series earned him the Most Valuable Player award, despite Denny McLain’s dominant regular season that year. Lolich’s stellar 1.67 ERA over three complete games, including a crucial Game 7 road victory against Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals, cemented his place in baseball lore.
Key Moments from the 1968 World Series
The dramatic final out of the ’68 Series remains an iconic moment in Detroit sports history. Catcher Bill Freehan leapt to snag a foul pop-up by Tim McCarver, and Lolich celebrated by embracing Freehan. Reflecting on his journey, Lolich told the Detroit Free Press in 2018,
“but my day had finally come.”
Though overshadowed by teammates during the regular season, Lolich became the unlikely hero during the Series. Earlier that year, manager Mayo Smith had relegated him to the bullpen during August despite his strong career as a starter since 1964. Lolich recalled during a World Series team reunion that he was frustrated but confident:
Image of: Detroit Tigers
“I was having a few problems, but I had been a starting pitcher ever since 1964,”
and added,
“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.”
He later said,
“I got my revenge back in the World Series.”
Legacy and Career Highlights of Mickey Lolich
Pitching on just two days’ rest in Game 7, Lolich defied expectations. Though he anticipated receiving a Corvette from General Motors as the Series MVP, he instead got a Dodge Charger GT because Chrysler sponsored the event. In his autobiography Joy in Tigertown, Lolich said,
“Nothing against Chargers, nothing at all, it’s just that I already had two of them in my driveway.”
Over a 16-year career primarily with Detroit, Lolich amassed a 220-192 win-loss record and became the Tigers’ all-time leader in strikeouts with 2,679 and shutouts with 39. He ranks 23rd in career strikeouts in MLB history, ahead of many Hall of Famers, and ranks fifth among left-handed pitchers.
Since his achievement in 1968, only Randy Johnson matched the accomplishment of three World Series wins in 2001, though Johnson pitched fewer innings and appeared as a relief pitcher in Game 7.
Lolich’s finest regular seasons included a 25-14 record with 308 strikeouts in 1971, narrowly missing the American League Cy Young Award, followed by a 22-14 record with 250 strikeouts in 1972. After a final stint with the New York Mets in 1976 and a two-year return with the San Diego Padres, he retired from professional baseball.
Beyond Baseball: Life After the Diamond
Born in Portland, Oregon, Mickey Lolich transitioned into a unique business venture after his baseball career, entering the doughnut industry in suburban Detroit. He spent 18 years making and selling doughnuts, a transition he described in his book as unusual:
“I doubt any other ballplayer has ever made that transition — from the diamond to doughnuts. But I did,”
showcasing a different chapter of his life beyond sports.
The Detroit Tigers released a statement expressing sympathy to his family and emphasized that Lolich’s legacy “will forever be cherished,” underscoring his lasting impact on the organization and its fans.
