Mike McCormick, R.I.P.

Former MLB pitcher Mike McCormick, best known for winning the NL Cy Young Award in 1967, passed away on Saturday following a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 81.

A native of Pasadena, California, McCormick signed with the New York Giants as a bonus baby in 1956 making his big league debut at the age of 17. McCormick, a southpaw, would follow the team to San Francisco in 1958 and by 1960 would become the ace of the staff winning 15 games and leading the NL in ERA in 1960 earning selections to the NL All-Star Team in both 1960 and 1961.

While the Giants would win the NL pennant in 1962, McCormick would regress. Following the '62 season, the Giants traded McCormick to the Baltimore Orioles in a six player deal. McCormick didn't pitch any better in 1963 and would spend most of 1964 with the Orioles' Triple-AAA affiliate in Rochester. The Orioles would deal McCormick to the Washington Senators prior to the 1965 season. McCormick was utilized as both a starter and a reliever in Washington posting an 8-8 3.36 ERA mark in 1965 and a 11-14 3.46 ERA in 1966. These numbers were serviceable, but the Senators would trade McCormick back to the Giants prior to the 1967 season.

The Giants were not expecting McCormick to return to his 1960-1961 form. After a slow start, McCormick won 18 of his final 25 decisions leading the NL with 22 wins and a career best 2.85 ERA. National League hitters had trouble with McCormick's screwball. On a staff which included future Hall of Famers Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry, it was McCormick would become the NL's inaugural Cy Young winner (prior to '67 there was one Cy Young winner for both leagues). He also finished 6th in NL MVP balloting.

However, McCormick's tenure at the top was short-lived. He had decent seasons in 1968 (12-14 3.58 ERA) and 1969 (11-9 3.34 ERA) before being traded to the New York Yankees during the 1970 season. McCormick's big league career would be over in 1917 after a handful of appearances with the Kansas City Royals. He would pitch in the minor leagues with the Giants, San Diego Padres and Minnesota Twins organizations in 1972 and 1973 before retiring. In 16 big league seasons, McCormick went 134-128 with a 3.73 ERA in 484 appearances including 333 starts.

During his playing career, McCormick became a stock broker in the off-season before pursuing it full-time after his retirement. He would later own a number of businesses. McCormick frequently made appearances for the Giants during spring training. I leave you with McCormick reminiscing about his days on the mound. R.I.P.