Mickey Lolich, the 1968 World Series MVP for the champion Tigers and a one-time Mets pitcher, died Wednesday.
He was 85.
The Tigers said Lolich’s wife told them he died after a brief stay in hospice care, though his cause of death wasn’t disclosed.
Lolich’s finest hour in baseball came during the 1968 World Series, when he tossed three complete-game victories, including a one-run gem in Game 7 against the Cardinals on just two days rest.
That came after Lolich briefly lost his rotation spot during the regular season following a string of rough outings in July. He wasn’t pleased.
“I was having a few problems, but I had been a starting pitcher ever since 1964,” Lolich said. “I remember telling [manager Mayo Smith], ‘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.”
Lolich spent 13 seasons with the Tigers and was a three-time All-Star, finishing in the top three of the AL Cy Young voting twice.
The Tigers traded Lolich to the Mets after the 1975 season for Rusty Staub; Lolich initially exercised his 10-and-5 rights to veto the deal but Mets brass convinced him to accept the trade.
He had a 3.22 ERA in 31 appearances (30 starts) for the Mets in 1976 before retiring. After sitting out the ’77 season, he came back for two seasons with the Padres before retiring for good.
Lolich finished his career with a 217-191 record, 3.44 ERA and 2,832 strikeouts, the 23rd most in MLB history.
“Lolich will be remembered as one of the most durable and dominant left-handed pitchers of his era and a cornerstone of Detroit’s pitching staff for more than a decade,” the Tigers said in a statement.
— With AP