Mickey Lolich: Celebrated Detroit Tigers Pitcher and 1968 World Series MVP Dies at 85

Mickey Lolich, renowned for his exceptional pitching with the Detroit Tigers during the 1968 World Series, passed away at the age of 85. Lolich’s wife informed the Tigers that he died after a brief period in hospice care, though the specific cause of death was not disclosed.

During the 1968 baseball season, Denny McLain was the standout of the Tigers’ pitching staff, securing 31 regular-season wins. However, it was Lolich who earned the title of Most Valuable Player during the World Series. He achieved a remarkable earned run average (ERA) of 1.67 and clinched a decisive Game 7 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals’ Bob Gibson.

In a moment immortalized in sports history, the Detroit Tigers celebrated their 1968 championship triumph by lifting Lolich into the air at Busch Stadium. The final out saw Bill Freehan catching Tim McCarver’s foul pop-up, with Lolich leaping into Freehan’s embrace, marking a memorable ending to their victorious season.

Lolich, reflecting on the significance of the win, remarked in 2018 to the Detroit Free Press, “It was always somebody else, but my day had finally come.” With an impressive record of 2,832 career strikeouts, Lolich ranks 23rd in strikeouts overall and fifth among left-handed pitchers, as noted by baseball-reference.com. Surprisingly, while surpassing many who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, Lolich remains outside its esteemed ranks.

During the 1968 season, Lolich was initially deployed to the bullpen by manager Mayo Smith in August. However, he returned to the starting rotation and delivered a 6-1 performance in the closing weeks. Lolich recounted his resolve at the time, “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.” His efforts in the World Series undeniably helped solidify his legacy.

Lolich’s standout moment came when he pitched Game 7 with just two days of rest. He humorously recounted his MVP expectations in his book, “Joy in Tigertown,” hoping for a Corvette but instead receiving a Dodge Charger GT, as Chrysler sponsored the Series that year. “Nothing against Chargers, nothing at all,” he wrote, “It’s just that I already had two of them in my driveway.”

After Lolich, only Arizona’s Randy Johnson managed to win three games in a World Series, doing so in 2001. Unlike Lolich, Johnson pitched primarily as a relief pitcher in Game 7.

Lolich’s 16-year career yielded a record of 220-192, including postseason play, with the majority spent with Detroit. He briefly retired after playing for the New York Mets in 1976, later returning with the San Diego Padres from 1978 to 1979.

In 2018, Lolich threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Tigers game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, further cementing his enduring connection to the team. Even after his baseball days, Lolich pursued an intriguing venture, owning and operating a doughnut shop in suburban Detroit for 18 years. He humorously acknowledged in his book, “I doubt any other ballplayer has ever made that transition — from the diamond to doughnuts. But I did.”

Expressing their condolences, the Tigers stated that Lolich’s legacy “will forever be cherished.” Born in Portland, Oregon, Lolich’s remarkable life and career leave an indelible mark in the world of baseball.