The MVP of the 1968 World Series passed away February 4 at the age of 85.
Lolich went 217-191 over a 16-year career, spent mostly with the Detroit Tigers. In their World Championship season he was “only” 17-9,pitching behind Denny McLain’s 31-win campaign. He won 20 twice, including a league-leading 25 victories in 1970. Lolich was a workhorse: he tossed more than 300 innings for four straight years (1971-74) and was a three-time All-Star.
He finished his career with the NY Mets and San Diego Padres, retiring at the age of 38 in 1979.
Lolich loved his donuts. He was the kind of guy who gave us couch potatoes hope. I mean if this chubby guy could make it, maybe we could, too.
Here’s his obituary from The New York Times by Richard Goldstein as well as the Detroit News and Free Press.
Lolich published his memoir, Joy in Tigertown: A Determined Team, a Resilient City, and our Magical Run to the 1968 World Series with Tom Gage in 2018.
