Former MLB pitcher Frank Lary passed away on Wednesday in his native Alabama at the age of 87. Lary spent the majority of his big league career with the Detroit Tigers where he became known as the "Yankee Killer". Although he finished his career with a decent won loss record of 128-116, he posted a 28-13 record against the New York Yankees at the height of their post-WWII success.
During the peak of his career between 1955 and 1961, Lary won 20 or more games twice, led the AL in innings pitched thrice and in complete games twice. In 1961, he would finish third in MLB Cy Young balloting behind Whitey Ford and Warren Spahn after winning 23 games for the Tigers during which he earned his second AL All-Star Team selection and only Gold Glove. Unfortunately, Lary would injure his shoulder the following season and his career would come to an end in 1965 after stints with the Milwaukee Braves, Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets.
To give one an idea of what kind of pitcher Lary was against the Yankees in 1958 he went 7-1 against the Bronx Bombers while going 9-14 against the rest of the AL. Mind you the Yankees won the World Series that year. Legend has it that Lary was avenging the Civil War when he faced the Yankees. Whatever the reason for his success, Lary carved out a special place for himself in baseball lore.
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