Pitcher Mickey Lolich, the MVP and Game 7 star of the Detroit Tigers’ 1968 World Series triumph, died Wednesday at the age of 85, the team announced.
Lolich won all three of his starts against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1968 championship series, outdueling Bob Gibson in the decider by twirling a five-hit, one-run complete game on two days’ rest.
By also winning Games 2 and 5, Lolich helped the Tigers erase a 3-1 series deficit.
The left-hander from Portland, Ore., was runner-up for the American League Cy Young Award in 1971 in Detroit, where Lolich played the first 13 of his 16 major league seasons.
He built on his championship heroics — Lolich is the only southpaw to throw three complete games in a World Series — with three All-Star nods in a four-year span from 1969-72. He was the AL leader in wins (25), complete games (29) and strikeouts (308) in 1971.
“Lolich was a great pitcher, teammate and champion, but he was more than that to me,” retired outfielder Willie Horton, Lolich’s longtime Tigers teammate, said in a statement.
“He was like a brother for over 60 years. I will keep the memories close to my heart and will never forget the close bond we shared. My condolences to (widow) Joyce and their family and to everyone who loved him.”
Lolich had a career 217-191 record and a 3.44 ERA in 586 games (496 starts) for the Tigers (1963-75), New York Mets (1976) and San Diego Padres (1978-79).
A durable ace, he recorded 195 complete games, seeing through nearly 40% of his starts, and ranks 23rd in MLB history with 2,832 strikeouts.
Lolich’s only other playoff appearance came when Detroit fell in the 1972 AL Championship Series to the Oakland Athletics. He was saddled with the Game 1 loss despite pitching into the 11th inning and allowing two earned runs.
His 1.57 career ERA in the postseason is a Tigers record.
In retirement, Lolich operated donut shops in the Detroit area. He entered the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.
