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RIP Mickey Lolich

LionJim

LionJim

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m.knox

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I'm pretty sure I have a baseball card or two of him from the early 70's.
 
MtNittany

MtNittany

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BVSt.Paul said:
Sad to hear about Mickey. I loved the Tigers as a kid, even though I grew up in NEPA. I’m still using my Wilson A2004 Al Kaline glove for softball.
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Wilson A2000's were the best (of course). My Dad had a bunch, including 1st baseman's mitts. I used to think that as a kid I was cursed to be right handed, rendering them useless to me.
 
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rudedude

rudedude

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Sep 28, 2002
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LionJim said:
Detroit was down 1-3 to the World Champ Cardinals. The Cards came very close to having one of the best NL decades ever. Good team. My all-time team varies from day to day but two constants are Wagner and Bob Gibson.
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Gibson was filthy when pitching.
 
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MrTailgate

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The Cardinals and BoSox had a great Series in 67. In 68, the Cardinals returned and faced the Tigers. Roger Maris was on that Cardinals roster and Maris told his teammates that the pitcher they had to focus on was Lolich (and not McLain who won 31). Lolich won 3, was magnificent, and was MVP as the Tigers beat the Redbirds 4-3.
 
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IndianaNittanyLion_rivals328484

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The Tigers have been my team from the beginning. I have many baseball cards of that team. I can still name the starting team at every position. Also, remember Stanley (an outfielder) took over at shortstop for Oyler (weak offensively) and played well. Great series. Gibson was incredible that season and the series was billed as Gibson versus Denny McClain, the last 30 game winner (31). The way they pamper the pitchers today, there will never be another 30 game winner.
 
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HarrisburgDave

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rudedude said:
Gibson was filthy when pitching.
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Lolich was the star of that world series against St. Louis. He was a solid picher that does not get much mention since he retired.

I hated Gibson with a passion. I also would have killed to have him pitching for my team. He was fearless and owned the plate. Nobody dug in the batters box when Gibson was pitching. The man was a very good hitter. He would have made a great right fielder.

If I would be tasked with making up a starting rotation for that time I would have started with Gibson and then Don Drysdale. As tough as Gibson was, Drysdale would nail a guy just for looking at him too long. The man was a beast.

Juan Marichal was special. That high leg kick was something to see.

Jim Bunning was my favorite. The first man to pitch no hitters in both leagues and the first to have 1,000 strike outs in both leagues. Another tall guy with a huge delivery. I would have hated to bat against him. Too bad he spent his career with mostly terrible teams.

Luis Tiant was another guy with a high kick. He hid the ball as well as anyone ever has.
 
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LionJim

LionJim

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HarrisburgDave said:
I hated Gibson with a passion. I also would have killed to have him pitching for my team. The man was a very good hitter. He would have made a great right fielder.
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Or a great shortstop. Gibson played basketball at Creighton. Tough guy.

My favorite Bob Gibson story, he’s in a hotel elevator and someone from the opposing team walks in and says something along the lines of “You’re pitching tonight, eh, Bob? Take it easy on me willya, ha ha,” just joking. First pitch that night puts the guy in the dirt. Gibson had a Cobb, Rose, Jackie Robinson mentality.
 
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HarrisburgDave

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LionJim said:
Or a great shortstop. Gibson played basketball at Creighton. Tough guy.

My favorite Bob Gibson story, he’s in a hotel elevator and someone from the opposing team walks in and says something along the lines of “You’re pitching tonight, eh, Bob? Take it easy on me willya, ha ha,” just joking. First pitch that night puts the guy in the dirt. Gibson had a Cobb, Rose, Jackie Robinson mentality.
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You are not old enough to remember Bob Gibson in a commercial in the 1960s throwing his fastball at a sheet of unbreakable glass. He was so fluid and explosive. A gifted talent, with attitude.
 
LionJim

LionJim

Heisman
Oct 12, 2021
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LionJim said:
Or a great shortstop. Gibson played basketball at Creighton. Tough guy.

My favorite Bob Gibson story, he’s in a hotel elevator and someone from the opposing team walks in and says something along the lines of “You’re pitching tonight, eh, Bob? Take it easy on me willya, ha ha,” just joking. First pitch that night puts the guy in the dirt. Gibson had a Cobb, Rose, Jackie Robinson mentality.
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I just checked: Gibson won nine Gold Gloves. Remember how he pitched, he would basically throw himself off the mound, and with this he won nine gold Gloves? Unreal.
 
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HarrisburgDave

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LionJim said:
I just checked: Gibson won nine Gold Gloves. Remember how he pitched, he would basically throw himself off the mound, and with this he won nine gold Gloves? Unreal.
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Tiant, Gibson and Marichal all had crazy deliveries. I do not know how hitters could stay focused enough to stand in the batters box against them.
 
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Jason1743

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Jan 23, 2006
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HarrisburgDave said:
Lolich was the star of that world series against St. Louis. He was a solid picher that does not get much mention since he retired.

I hated Gibson with a passion. I also would have killed to have him pitching for my team. He was fearless and owned the plate. Nobody dug in the batters box when Gibson was pitching. The man was a very good hitter. He would have made a great right fielder.

If I would be tasked with making up a starting rotation for that time I would have started with Gibson and then Don Drysdale. As tough as Gibson was, Drysdale would nail a guy just for looking at him too long. The man was a beast.

Juan Marichal was special. That high leg kick was something to see.

Jim Bunning was my favorite. The first man to pitch no hitters in both leagues and the first to have 1,000 strike outs in both leagues. Another tall guy with a huge delivery. I would have hated to bat against him. Too bad he spent his career with mostly terrible teams.

Luis Tiant was another guy with a high kick. He hid the ball as well as anyone ever has.
Click to expand...
No Sandy Koufax? The left arm of God.
 
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HarrisburgDave

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Jason1743 said:
No Sandy Koufax? The left arm of God.
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Koufax was done in 1966. I was referencing 1968 pitchers and Lolich won the World Series MVP. Of course he was the second best pitcher on that team.

Denny McLain won 31 games in 68 and then another 2 dozen in 69. In four years he averaged 23 wins a year. He was just worn out by 1970.

Koufax was the best in my lifetime. How did he pitch with that pain he suffered?
 
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mh-larch

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Nov 20, 2019
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RIP Mickey

Lancaster County connection on that '68 WS championship Tigers' team. Don Wert was their 3rd baseman, and a good one at that. He played for Solanco HS and then F&M.
 
LionJim

LionJim

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HarrisburgDave said:
Koufax was done in 1966. I was referencing 1968 pitchers and Lolich won the World Series MVP. Of course he was the second best pitcher on that team.

Denny McLain won 31 games in 68 and then another 2 dozen in 69. In four years he averaged 23 wins a year. He was just worn out by 1970.

Koufax was the best in my lifetime. How did he pitch with that pain he suffered?
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Operative word is “worn out.” The reason pitchers are coddled nowadays is that if you don’t coddle them they’ll ruin their arms. Speed speed speed is all that nowadays.
 
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Nits74

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LionJim said:
Or a great shortstop. Gibson played basketball at Creighton. Tough guy.

My favorite Bob Gibson story, he’s in a hotel elevator and someone from the opposing team walks in and says something along the lines of “You’re pitching tonight, eh, Bob? Take it easy on me willya, ha ha,” just joking. First pitch that night puts the guy in the dirt. Gibson had a Cobb, Rose, Jackie Robinson mentality.
Click to expand...
I may have mentioned this one some time ago on the board, but my personal favorite Gibson story was from McCarver. He goes out to talk with Bob. Gibson tells him to get back behind the plate where he belongs, and says the only thing you know about good pitching is that you can't hit it.
 
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