Cooperstown Chronicles - Mickey Lolich

Photo courtesy of TSN Archives/Icon SMI

Ark_Razor, a friend of mine from Sporting News, wanted me to profile Mickey Lolich.  Here are my findings.

The Numbers
Played 1963-1979 (16 Years)
586 Games
496 Starts (48th All-time)
3638.3 Innings (58th All-time)
217 Wins - 191 Losses (77th All-time)
.532 Winning Percentage 
195 Complete Games
41 Shutouts
11 Saves
3.44 ERA (3.60 League ERA)
1.227 WHIP
2832 Ks (18th All-time)

Playoffs:  5 Starts, 3-1, 1.57 ERA, 30 Ks, 3 Complete Games

Awards
1968 World Series MVP
1968 Babe Ruth Award
3 All-Star Appearances
Cy Young Votes in 2 Seasons
MVP Votes in 3 Seasons
Wins - Eight Times (Led league in 1971)
ERA - Twice
Strikeouts - Ten Times (Led league in1971)
Winning % - Twice
Innings - Seven Times (Led league in1971)
Starts - Eight Times (Led league in1971)
Complete Games - Eight Times (Led league in1971)
Shutouts - Seven Times (Led league in1967)

Mickey Lolich was brilliant in the 1968 World Series when he had three Complete Game victories en route to the World Series MVP.  He has some impressive credentials.  Eleven straight 14+ win seasons, two 20 Win seasons, nine double-digit Complete Game seasons (four of 19 or better), seven 200+ K seasons (one with 308), and twelve straight 200+ Inning seasons (four of 300+).   An interesting fact is Lolich was actually a righty, but when he broke his arm as a youth he taught himself to throw lefty.  He was a great pitcher, but even in his best season (1971) there was somebody (Vida Blue) better.  He comes up short in the Black Ink, Gray Ink, HOF Standards, and just barely the HOF Monitor.  He fully deserves to have his number retired by Detroit and be enshrined in the Tiger Hall of Fame, but he comes up a little short for Cooperstown consideration.

Baseball-reference.com
BR Bullpen

Past Chronicles
Roberto Alomar
Harold Baines
Albert Belle
Pete Browning
Bert Byleven
Joe Carter
Orlando Cepeda*
Rocky Colavito
Dave Concepcion
David Cone
Larry Corcoran
Mike Cuellar
Andre Dawson
Jimmie Dykes (Player/Manager)
Dwight Evans
Chuck Finley
Steve Finley
John Franco
Gary Gaetti
Steve Garvey
Luis Gonzalez
Dwight Gooden
Mark Grace
Charlie Grimm (Player/Manager)
Ron Guidry
Keith Hernandez
Orel Hershiser
Whitey Herzog (Manager)
Gil Hodges
Ralph Houk (Manager)
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Tommy John
Jim Kaat
Tom Kelly (Manager)
Jerry Koosman
Barry Larkin
Sherry Magee
Roger Maris
Billy Martin (Player/Manager)
Dennis Martinez
Edgar Martinez
Bobby Matthews
Don Mattingly
Gene Mauch (Manager)
Fred McGriff
Mark McGwire
Jack Morris
Tony Mullane
Dale Murphy
Graig Nettles
Lefty O’Doul
Tony Oliva
Al Oliver
Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso
Dave Parker
Wes Parker
Lance Parrish
Boog Powell
Tim Raines
Willie Randolph
Jim Rice
Phil Rizzuto*
Brooks Robinson*
Pete Ro$e
Jimmy Ryan
Ron Santo
Ted Simmons
Lee Smith
Rusty Staub
Dave Stieb
Harry Stovey
Alan Trammell
George Van Haltren
Mo Vaughn
Bobby Veach
Frank Viola
Lou Whitaker
Bernie Williams
Maury Wills

* Signifies actual Hall of Famer

Top Ten Finishes

ShareThis