Denny McLain out of prison; What a Life!

All over the Detroit papers today, Denny McLain - the last pitcher to win 30, in 1968 (on my 17th birthday, BTW) - is out of prison. Adored father died young; unbelievable pitching skills; jerk to his teammates, but unbelievably great pitcher for too few years; Las Vegas star playing the organ; drug runner who was popped and served time; radio superstar, and damned good at it; ripped off Farmer Peet packing, including destroying the pensions of so many long-time employees. Wife divorced him - two weeks ago, they remarried! Daughter killed in traffic accident; he has never recovered from that fully. Any screenwriters out there? My God, what a story. He ruined peoples' lives. Yet, he also ruined his own, and yet, his long time ex remarried him, and yet, here he comes again, and yet - wow, what a story. Check this out!

By Jerry Green / The Detroit News
John T. Greilick / The Detroit News

GROSSE POINTE -- Denny McLain is free.

No more lonely and mind-numbing days in prison.

But McLain isn't as free as he'd like to be. The mistrust still lingers. And the talk of his criminal past.

"No one is sorrier for what happened than I am," McLain, 59, said Monday in his first interview since his release from a halfway house earlier this month.

"Nobody. And whatever it was, I did the time. I paid a helluva price for whatever this was. That's probably going to be good enough for some people. Maybe not good enough for all of the people."

http://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0310/28/a01-309945.htm

Thanks for posting it.

Has to be one of the best years in baseball history for a pitcher. Sad story.

Tied with Mike Cuellar of the Orioles. One of the greatest two-year stretches in baseball history. Also in '68, Bob Gibson had a 1.12 ERA, the modern record that will never be broken. 1968 was quite a year in many ways. After 1969, McLain was finished (traded to the Senators). Although I have MUCH more sympathy for those he harmed, it is a hell of a story.

You've gotta find his organ record from the 60s. Scour the used record bins, it is an excellent record!

Don't forget the story that he got stomped by the Russian mob and couldn't go in the 67 pennant race.

He'll be back on the radio. I'd bet on The Team 1270.

Now that's living !

Or was that Mickey Lolich?

He showed up for spring training one year with his hair dyed a bright red and, when asked about it, said "Aw, what are you talking about -- I've ALWAYS been a redhead!"
The first game I ever saw live at Tiger Stadium was in 1968 against Baltimore. The Tigs lost 5-3 and McLain took the loss, one of only six he had that year (Frank Robinson hit one a mile upstairs to left, and Boog Powell followed about two pitches later with one a mile and a half upstairs to right).
I'm willing to forgive the guy (yet again), but I doubt the good people of Chesaning are ever going to.
ON EDIT: Faygokid's right, though -- McLain's life would make a hell of a movie. And I'm truly happy that he and Sharon are back together -- she's a great gal and has put up with far more than anyone should be asked to. Obviously, they love each other in spite of Denny's loopiness.

I never knew about all the sordid stuff.