Former MLB pitcher "Sudden" Sam McDowell, who spent the bulk of his career with the Cleveland Indians during the 1960s and early 1970s, passed away yesterday at the age of 84.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, McDowell was a standout athlete in baseball, football, basketball and track & field. To give you an idea of how good McDowell was as a pitcher in high school, nearly all MLB teams in existence at the time wanted to sign him. In 1960, McDowell would sign with the Cleveland Indians who gave him a signing bonus of $75,000 (roughly $850,000 in 2026).
On September 15, 1961, just six days shy of his 19th birthday, McDowell made his big-league debut throwing 6.1 of shutout baseball against the Minnesota Twins but would end up with a no decision.
However, it was not until 1964 when McDowell became a full-fledged starting pitcher in an Indians' rotation which also featured Luis Tiant and Tommy John, the latter of whom passed away in August.
The peak of McDowell's career was between 1965 and 1971. Over this seven-year stretch, McDowell was named to six AL All-Star Teams and led the AL in strikeouts five times twice topping 300 strikeouts on the strength of his overpowering fastball. The flip side of this was that he walked over 100 batters in each of these seven seasons leading the Junior Circuit in bases on balls five times.
Had there been an AL Cy Young Award in 1965, McDowell would have surely won it. That season he went 17-11 with a league leading 2.18 ERA posting a career high 325 strikeouts against 132 walks. At the time, there was only one Cy Young for both leagues and Sandy Koufax was the hands down winner. While McDowell fanned 325 batters, Koufax set a then MLB record with 382 strikeouts. Nolan Ryan would eclipse it by a single strikeout while with the California Angels eight years later, but Koufax stills holds the NL record. McDowell was pitching in very tough company.
The closest McDowell came to winning a Cy Young was in 1970 when he finished third in AL Cy Young balloting behind Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dave McNally and the winner, Minnesota Twins pitcher Jim Perry. It was McDowell's only 20-win season.
Following the 1971 season, the Tribe traded McDowell to the San Francisco Giants for Gaylord Perry, Jim's younger brother, along with infielder Frank Duffy. The younger Perry would win the AL Cy Young with the Indians in 1972 while McDowell struggled going 10-8 with a 4.33 ERA fanning only 122 batters.
By the middle of the following season, the Giants sold McDowell's contract to the New York Yankees. McDowell would finish his big-league career with his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates in 1975. In 15 MLB seasons, McDowell went 141-133 with a 3.17 ERA in 425 appearances including 346 starts. In 2492.1 innings pitched, McDowell struck out 2453 batters against 1312 walks.
McDowell's 2453 strikeouts remain 46th best in MLB history while ranking 16th in strikeouts among left-handed pitchers. Of his 2453 Ks, 2159 came in a Cleveland uniform. Only Bob Feller struck out more batters as a member of the Tribe with 2581.
At the time, McDowell retired he was 8th on MLB's all-time strikeout list. Yet McDowell did not receive a single vote in his only year on the BBWAA ballot in 1981.
Why was this so?
Was it because he walked too many batters? Was it because he pitched on mediocre teams? Or was it because of his alcoholism? It is worth remembering that the Sam Malone character played by Ted Danson on Cheers was inspired by McDowell.
While McDowell may have not necessarily warranted a plaque in Cooperstown, he did warrant a few votes.
Fortunately, McDowell managed to overcome his alcoholism and would help others including future MLB ballplayers overcome their own alcohol and drug addictions. I am sure he would take that over a Hall of Fame plaque and not be able to stop drinking. R.I.P.
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