OCTR Episode #26: Denny McLain Interview
from Off Center with Tony Reid Hosted by Tony Reid
Denny McLain spent a decade pitching at a high level in Major League Baseball. Spending the bulk of his career with the Detroit Tigers, the Markham, Ill. native was a revelation early on for the team in the Motor City. In 1968, the big right-hander became the last pitcher to win 30 or more games in a single season, finishing his magical run with an astounding 31-6 record. The storybook start to McLain's career was solidified when he won Cy Young Awards in 1968 and 1969 and the American League MVP award in 1968. McLean was a three-time All-Star and a World Series champion. After battling through many highly publicized off-field issues, McLain retired after spending part of the 1972 season with both the Oakland Athletics and Atlanta Braves. He finished his career with 131 wins, more than 100 complete games and nearly 1,300 strikeouts. In this exclusive interview that appeared in SCD, McClain talks about thinning out his massive collection of cards and memorabilia, idolizing Mickey Mantle as a kid and taking pride in still signing for fans decades after his retirement.
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