| Denny McLain | |
|---|---|
 McLain in 1966 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: March 29, 1944 Markham, Illinois, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 21, 1963, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 12, 1972, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 131–91 |
| Earned run average | 3.39 |
| Strikeouts | 1,282 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Dennis Dale McLain (born March 29, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player.[1] He played for ten seasons in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher, most prominently as a member of the Detroit Tigers. In 1968, McLain became the last Major League Baseball pitcher to win 30 or more games during a season (with a record of 31–6) — a feat accomplished by only 11 players in the 20th century, with the most recent 34 years earlier.[2][3]
As a player, McLain was brash and outspoken, sometimes creating controversy by criticizing teammates and fans with little provocation. His stellar performance at the beginning of his major league career included two Cy Young awards and an American League MVP award. His success in baseball stood in marked contrast to his personal life; he associated with organized crime and was eventually convicted on charges of embezzlement, for which he served time in prison.[4][5]
- ^ "Denny McLain statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ Acocella, Nick. "From the big time to the big house". ESPN. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
- ^ "30-Game Winners Since 1900". Baseball Digest. October 1988. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
- ^ Armour, Mark. "The Baseball Biography Project: Denny McLain". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
- ^ Thomashoff, Craig (March 2002). "Fallen Star: The Downfall of Former Pitcher Denny McLain". Baseball Digest. Retrieved December 23, 2011.