A true legend has left us. Mickey Lolich, the Detroit Tigers' pitching hero of the 1968 World Series, has passed away at the age of 85. His remarkable performance during that historic series not only secured a championship for the Tigers but also earned him the prestigious series MVP title.
Lolich, a left-handed pitcher with a unique backstory, was a key figure in the Tigers' pitching staff during the 1960s and '70s. Despite his portly build, he developed into one of the most durable and exceptional left-handed starters the game has ever seen. With 2,832 career strikeouts, he ranks fifth among left-handers, surpassing legendary Hall of Famers like Bob Feller, Warren Spahn, and Don Drysdale.
Over his impressive 16-year career, Lolich consistently delivered, winning 15 or more games in eight seasons. He threw an incredible 195 complete games and struck out 200 or more batters in seven of those seasons, all while maintaining an exceptional record of durability, missing only one start due to injury. Lolich holds the Tigers' all-time records for strikeouts (2,679), starts (459), and shutouts (39).
The 1968 World Series was a showcase of Lolich's brilliance. Entering the series, all eyes were on the pitching duel between St. Louis Cardinals ace Bob Gibson and the Tigers' own Denny McLain, who had won an impressive 31 games that season. While Gibson set a World Series record with 17 strikeouts in Game 1, it was Lolich who stole the show with three complete-game victories against a formidable Cardinals lineup featuring Lou Brock, Curt Flood, and Orlando Cepeda.
In Game 2, Lolich pitched a masterful six-hit complete game, tying the series at 1-1 and even contributed to his own cause by hitting the only home run of his career in the 8-1 win. Down 3-1 in the series, Lolich once again delivered a complete-game performance, helping the Tigers stage a comeback with a 5-3 win at Tiger Stadium.
But here's where it gets controversial... In Game 6, with the Tigers pulling away for a 13-1 victory, manager Mayo Smith was already strategizing for the deciding Game 7. He approached Lolich, who had pitched on just two days' rest, and asked if he could start the next game. Lolich, ever the team player, agreed, and proceeded to pitch another complete game, silencing the Cardinals' bats and securing the Tigers' victory.
And this is the part most people miss... In Game 7, with the series on the line, Lolich entered the dugout after pitching a scoreless five innings on short rest. Assuming his day was done, he was surprised when Smith asked him to pitch one more inning. Lolich, with his seemingly endless stamina, agreed, and proceeded to shut down the Cardinals' rally, picking off speedsters Brock and Flood at first base.
With the Tigers leading 3-0 in the seventh inning, Lolich delivered a message to Smith, tapping him on the shoulder and declaring, "Now I'll finish it for you." And finish it he did, relying on his sinking fastball to complete his trifecta and secure the Tigers' championship.
In that legendary series, Lolich pitched a total of 27 innings, allowing just five runs to the Cardinals. His performance was nothing short of extraordinary, and his teammates took notice. Mickey Stanley, Lolich's teammate, reflected in 2026, "The way he pitched in the seventh game of the World Series, on two days' rest, was unbelievable. He became a real pitcher in that Series, and from then on, it was like night and day. It was great to play behind him because he threw strikes and was a great competitor."
Lolich's achievement of winning three complete games in a World Series as a left-handed pitcher is a rare feat in American League history. He is the only lefty to accomplish this, and just the third pitcher of either hand to do so since 1921.
But how did Lolich, a naturally right-handed pitcher, become a lefty sensation? It all started with a tricycle accident as a toddler in his Portland, Oregon neighborhood. He knocked over a parked motorcycle, breaking his left arm. His parents' unique form of physical therapy involved tying his right hand behind his back, forcing him to rely on his left arm. From that moment on, Lolich threw left-handed.
Lolich's entry into baseball came later in his teens, when he happened upon a game at the city park maintained by his father. He was asked to join a local team of 14- and 15-year-olds, and the rest, as they say, is history. By age 14, Lolich was a star in the local Babe Ruth League and a batboy for the Pacific Coast League's Portland Beavers.
After signing with the Tigers in 1958, Lolich faced control issues in the minor leagues but found his groove with the help of pitching coach Gerry Staley. He made his major league debut in 1963 and quickly established himself as a reliable starter, forming a formidable duo with Denny McLain.
Lolich's career was not without its challenges. In 1967, he found himself serving his country in the Air National Guard during the civil unrest in Detroit. He even took the loss in a game against the Yankees on the first day of the disturbance.
In 1968, Lolich was surprisingly assigned to the bullpen by manager Mayo Smith. He returned to the starting rotation later that season and played a crucial role in the Tigers' World Series victory. After McLain's departure in 1970, Lolich became the Tigers' ace, pitching at least 300 innings each season from 1971 to 1974.
Lolich's 1971 season was arguably his greatest, leading the league in wins, strikeouts, complete games, and innings pitched. That year, he also earned the save in the All-Star Game at Tiger Stadium.
Reggie Jackson, a victim of Lolich's dominance at the plate, praised him, saying, "Lolich was a gallon of ice cream when you only wanted a cone... When he stepped on the mound, you knew he would be there until the end, and he never missed a start."
Lolich helped lead the Tigers to the AL East title in 1972, winning 22 games. Former teammate Frank Howard described him as an "outstanding starter who could pitch down and away all day."
Despite his success, Lolich faced challenges with a lack of run support and a poor defense in his later years with the Tigers. He was traded to the New York Mets in 1975, a move he initially resisted but later came to accept.
After a brief retirement, Lolich signed with the San Diego Padres in 1977, coaxed out of retirement with a lucrative two-year deal. He retired for good after the 1979 season and later owned and operated his own donut shop outside Detroit for several years.
Mickey Lolich is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joyce, and their daughters Kimberly, Stacy, and Jody, as well as three grandsons.
So, what do you think? Was Lolich's performance in the 1968 World Series one of the greatest of all time? And do you think he deserved more recognition for his achievements? Let us know in the comments!
