DENNY McLAIN DETROIT TIGERS c. 1980 CAP, 31-6 RECORD 1968 MVP 2X CY YOUNG WINNER

Description

Cooperstown 7 3/4" cap Signed on brim:
"Denny McLain, 31-6 1968"
Signed during the 1980 season and cap is of same vintage.   Fine condition; complete w/original tagging -  a Roman hat made in Randolph, Massachussetts, USA.
McLain's1968 season was a remarkable one, as he went 31-6 with a 1.96
ERA
, was an
All-Star
, won the
Cy Young Award
, received the American League
Most Valuable Player Award
, and was on the
World Series
-winning Detroit Tigers. He was the first pitcher in the history of the
American League
to win the Most Valuable Player Award and the Cy Young Award in the same season. His 31 wins that year made him the first pitcher to win 30 games in a season since
Dizzy Dean
accomplished the feat for the
St. Louis Cardinals
in
1934
.
After the Tigers clinched the '68
AL pennant
, McLain exhibited a rare display of magnanimity against the
New York Yankees
; in cruising to his 31st victory, with the Tigers leading 6-1, McLain grooved a "fat" pitch to
Mickey Mantle
, whom McLain had idolized while growing up. It allowed the soon-to-retire Mantle to hit his 535th homer and pass
Jimmie Foxx
on the all-time home run list. The next batter,
Joe Pepitone
, waved his bat over the plate, as if asking for an easy pitch of his own. McLain responded by knocking Pepitone down with his next delivery.
McLain's 1968 World Series performance was not as stellar. Having already racked up an incredible 336 innings-pitched and 28 complete games during the regular season, the sore-armed hurler lost Games 1 and 4 to
Bob Gibson
of the
St. Louis Cardinals
, who posted a 1.12 ERA during the '68 season to win the National League Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards. Trailing 3 games to 2, McLain won the crucial Game 6 on just two days' rest, aided by a
grand slam
from
Jim Northrup
. Teammate
Mickey Lolich
went 3-0 in the series, including a complete game triumph in Game 7 against Gibson, and won the
World Series MVP
award.  Insured post.