Denny McLain won thirty-one games that year of '68. Going into the fall classic world series against the heavily FAVORITE St. Louis Cardinals, which had ALL the KEY players from '67 that produced a CHAMPIONSHIP team. Most sports writers had the card's winning hands down!!....With a hard throwin' Bob Gibson, a fleet footed Lou Brock on the base path and Curt Flood playing center field, no way they could lose. Not so fast....Detorit had a damn good team with excellent pitching, Denny McLain was the workhorse of the starting rotation. Coming out of nowhere was Micky Lolich, winning ALL three of his starts against the Cardinals, defeating St. Louis 4 games to 3, and Lolich was voted MVP of the series.
Denny McLain could have (should have!) won 33 games in 1968. His arm was fatiguing so the manager took him out after the 5th innning in both of his last two starts of the season with the TIGERS ahead at the time in both games. But the bullpen wasn't able to preserve the lead...if they had done their job correctly McLain would have won 33 games instead of 31 as he ended up with. Wow, 33 wins !! wow 31 wins !!!
Tough call. If it wasnt for Lolich they Tigers would have probably lost the Series against the Cards despite Denny's regular season magnificence. Lots of luck went that team's way that year, no doubt about that.
I was just thinking about that while making this video. Certainly could never happen in the current environment. But it got me thinking. The way the MLB tinkers with rules and the game is evolving, perhaps a loophole could open up one day. Imagine a time when the 'starting pitcher' is no longer a thing, and managers stick guys in for an inning or two every couple of days similar to the way we do with closers. Afterall, the concept of a guy getting 30-40 saves was probably crazy back in the the 1960s. Not my idea of the way i want to see the game evolve, but as they say, never say never!
Thanks to lower mounds, more rotation pitchers, and less innings per start, it's going to be next to impossible to win even close to 30 ever again. I don't see anyone ever reaching 27 with this current formula. The tops will probably be about 20 now with bullpens being so vital in wins.
Denny McLain won thirty-one games that year of '68. Going into the fall classic world series against the heavily FAVORITE St. Louis Cardinals, which had ALL the KEY players from '67 that produced a CHAMPIONSHIP team. Most sports writers had the card's winning hands down!!....With a hard throwin' Bob Gibson, a fleet footed Lou Brock on the base path and Curt Flood playing center field, no way they could lose. Not so fast....Detorit had a damn good team with excellent pitching, Denny McLain was the workhorse of the starting rotation. Coming out of nowhere was Micky Lolich, winning ALL three of his starts against the Cardinals, defeating St. Louis 4 games to 3, and Lolich was voted MVP of the series.
I remember !!!!
Denny McLain could have (should have!) won 33 games in 1968. His arm was fatiguing so the manager took him out after the 5th innning in both of his last two starts of the season with the TIGERS ahead at the time in both games. But the bullpen wasn't able to preserve the lead...if they had done their job correctly McLain would have won 33 games instead of 31 as he ended up with. Wow, 33 wins !! wow 31 wins !!!
Tough call. If it wasnt for Lolich they Tigers would have probably lost the Series against the Cards despite Denny's regular season magnificence. Lots of luck went that team's way that year, no doubt about that.
1st to comment. There will never be a 30 game winner ever again
I was just thinking about that while making this video. Certainly could never happen in the current environment. But it got me thinking. The way the MLB tinkers with rules and the game is evolving, perhaps a loophole could open up one day. Imagine a time when the 'starting pitcher' is no longer a thing, and managers stick guys in for an inning or two every couple of days similar to the way we do with closers. Afterall, the concept of a guy getting 30-40 saves was probably crazy back in the the 1960s. Not my idea of the way i want to see the game evolve, but as they say, never say never!
not with the current formula in place, but who knows what the future holds.
😊❤ !
Thanks to lower mounds, more rotation pitchers, and less innings per start, it's going to be next to impossible to win even close to 30 ever again. I don't see anyone ever reaching 27 with this current formula. The tops will probably be about 20 now with bullpens being so vital in wins.
Agree 💯
The 30 win season will never happen again .
20 win seasons are becoming scarce too,and will never see a 300 game winning pitcher again.
2:16 That throw to home was awful.