#450 Mickey Lolich

They don’t make them like Mickey anymore....Portly and popular left hander in the MoTown.... 1971 was a comeback from 1970, lowering ERA by a run per game and gaining 11 wins....showed that he and veteran Tiger teammates still had something in the tank....The best pitcher in the AL for the two years of 1971 and 1972 with 47 victories.... in this prime of his career, collected immense number of innings, over 350 on average....led league in strikeouts and innings 1971...personally thwarted the Bob Gibson led Cardinal onslaught in 1968 World Series, winning 3 games, and taking home MVP honors....Hit a home run against the Redbirds to boot.... established himself in 1964 winning 18 games...otherwise played in shadow of Denny McClain....post 1972 was still ace of the staff but was plagued by an aging Tiger team, losing more than winning....traded to the Mets in 1976...didn’t win much, 8 times, despite respectable 3.22 ERA.....disgusted in NY.... Sat out in 1977, resurfaced in San Diego 1978 as a free agent...took the role of a middle relief man in fits and spurts....1.56 ERA....could not repeat in more work, 1979....Impressive stats: He completed nearly 40 percent of his starts, and hurled 41 shutouts....missed out on outright Cy Young