1968 World Series MVP Highlights: https://youtu.be/1dgo_xKMZls
Michael Stephen “Mickey” Lolich (Born in Portland, OR on September 12, 1940-) was the Detroit Tigers star during the 1968 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, winning three games including Game 7 off Cards ace Bob Gibson, picking off speedsters Lou Brock and Curt Flood and hitting the only home run of his career. Lolich began his career with the Detroit Tigers and won no less than 14 games for 11 consecutive seasons, topping the 20-win mark twice. His 17-9 record in the 1968 season was overshadowed by the extraordinary rookie campaign put up by teammate Denny McLain as he went 31-6. However, Mickey peaked at the right time during the playoff as he was named the 1968 AL Babe Ruth Award winner and the World Series MVP. In 1971, Mickey led the American League in wins with 25 while also leading the AL in starts (45), complete games (29), innings pitched (372.0 and strikeouts (308) finishing second to Vida Blue in AL Cy Young voting. Lolich holds numerous Detroit Tigers pitching records and stands second on the Majors all-time strikeout list (2,832) behind Hall of Famer Steve Carlton. The three-time All-Star was the model of consistency as he had six consecutive seasons with 200 or more strikeouts (1969-1974), 1,475 Ks during that span. Mickey spent the majority of his career with the Tigers (1963-1975), spent one year with the New York Mets (1976) and finished his career with the San Diego Padres (1978-1979). Mickey Lolich wrapped up his career after compiling a 217-191 record over 16 seasons, with 2,932 strikeouts, 195 complete games and 41 shutouts while posting a 3.44 career ERA.
This Day in Baseball – Raised His Record to 22-4 (8/15/71): https://youtu.be/-SbSl7_j6YE
Vida Rochelle Blue (Born in Mansfield, LA on July 28, 1949-) completed two of the six games he pitched in the 1970 season, throwing a one-hit 2-0 shutout against the Kansas City Royals followed by 6-0 no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins merely ten days later. The Kansas City Athletics selected Blue in the second round of the 1967 MLB June Amateur Draft and he chose to play baseball despite numerous college football scholarship offers to play quarterback. Vida was a unique, hard-throwing left-hander who utilized his blazing fastball, his hard breaking curve and change-up that would buckle your knees. All-time hits leader, Pete Rose, referred to Blue as the hardest throwing left hander he ever faced. In 1971, Vida paced the Oakland A’s and the American League as he went 24-8 with a league leading eight shutouts and 1.82 ERA as he marched to the AL Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player Award. He earned his first of six All-Star Game appearances and was also named The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year in 1971, which he won again in 1978. In 1972, he led the A’s to their first of three consecutive World Series titles (1972-1974) despite only posting a 6-10 record. Vida’s 17-year career with the A’s (1969-1977), the San Francisco Giants (1978-1981, 1985-1986) and the Kansas City Royals (1982-1983) was marred by confirmed rumors of drug use and even cost him a year ban from baseball as well as a year in prison. Vida Blue finished his career with a 209-161 record, struck out 2,175 batters and posted a 3.27 career ERA over 502 games, 143 complete games and 37 shutouts. In the playoffs, Blue went 1-5 with 47 strikeouts and a 4.31 ERA in 17 postseason appearances.
Sports and Torts: https://youtu.be/tU52E_81Yfg
Wilbur Forrester Wood, Jr. (born in Cambridge, MA on October 22, 1941-) pitched for three different teams, most notably the Chicago White Sox, where he became one of the team’s most dominant pitchers of the early 1970s. The Boston Red Sox signed Wood as an amateur free agent in 1960. He posted lackluster numbers in irregular appearances with the Red Sox (1961-1964) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1954-1965) before beginning a run with the White Sox (1967-1978) that led to 163 of his 164 career victories, as well as his three All-Star Game selections (1971, 1972, 1974). On July 20, 1973, he became the last Major League pitcher to start both ends of a doubleheader. In his 17-season career, Wood compiled a 164-156 record with a 3.24 ERA and 1,411 strikeouts. He compiled 24 shutouts and 114 complete games in 297 games started, and was the last pitcher in American League history to win and lose 20 or more games in the same season (24-20 in 1973).
High Quality Baseball Cards 