Mickey Lolich, the last Major League Baseball pitcher to achieve the remarkable feat of pitching three complete games in a single World Series with the Detroit Tigers in 1968, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 85. According to the Tigers, Lolich’s wife confirmed that he died following a brief period in hospice care, though the specific cause of death has not been revealed.
While Denny McLain was the star pitcher for Detroit in 1968, winning 31 games during the regular season, Lolich earned Most Valuable Player honors in the decisive seventh game against Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals, posting an impressive 1.67 ERA. The iconic moment of that championship came when catcher Bill Freehan caught Tim McCarver’s foul pop-up for the final out, and Lolich jubilantly leapt into Freehan’s arms.
Reflecting on his career in a 2018 interview with the Detroit Free Press, Lolich said, “I’ve always been someone else, but finally my day has come.” Baseball-reference.com ranks him 23rd all-time in career strikeouts with 2,832 — a total surpassing many Hall of Famers and placing him fifth among left-handed pitchers.
Lolich was an unexpected hero during the 1968 season. He recalled that manager Mayo Smith relegated him to the bullpen for much of August before he worked his way back into the starting rotation, finishing with a 6-1 record in the final week. Although frustrated by his bullpen stint, Lolich confidently told Smith, “If we win this year, it’s because of me,” referring only to the regular season. As it turned out, the Tigers did achieve revenge by winning the World Series.
Notably, Lolich pitched Game 7 following just two days’ rest. Though he anticipated receiving a Corvette as a prize, his sponsor Chrysler gave him a Dodge Charger GT instead, which he humorously noted in his book “Joy in Tigertown,” saying he already had two Chargers in his driveway.
Since Lolich’s time, only one pitcher—Arizona’s Randy Johnson in 2001—has won three World Series games, but Johnson accumulated fewer innings and pitched as a reliever in Game 7 rather than a starter. Over a 16-year career mostly with Detroit, Lolich compiled a 220-192 record including the postseason. He briefly played for the New York Mets in 1976 and returned to the San Diego Padres from 1978 to 1979.
His peak seasons included 1971, when he posted a 25-14 record with 308 strikeouts over 376 innings, finishing second in the American League Cy Young Award voting, and 1972, when he had a 22-14 record with 250 strikeouts. The Tigers released a statement extending condolences to his family, celebrating his lasting legacy.
Born in Portland, Oregon, Lolich entered the donut business in suburban Detroit after retiring from baseball, running a donut shop for 18 years. In his book, he remarked humorously, “No other player has ever made such a transition from diamond to donut, but I did.”
Reported by the Associated Press.
Fan Take: Mickey Lolich’s legacy as a durable, clutch pitcher in one of baseball’s most legendary World Series remains a high watermark for pitching excellence and determination. His passing reminds fans of the grit and heart that define the sport and inspires future generations to embrace resilience on and off the mound.
