DETROIT – Mickey Lolich, a legendary pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and hero of the 1968 World Series, has died at 85.
Lolich’s professional baseball journey began when the Tigers signed him in 1958.
Over a 16-year career, he started 496 games and appeared in 586 total, with 508 of those games played for Detroit between 1963 and 1975.
He also held the Tigers’ single-game strikeout record with 16 strikeouts in a game, achieved twice, until Anibal Sanchez broke it with 17 strikeouts in 2013.
A three-time All-Star (1969, 1971, 1972), Lolich was a top contender for the American League’s Cy Young Award, finishing second in 1971 and third in 1972. He also ranked among the league’s MVP candidates, placing fifth in 1971 and 10th in 1972.
Lolich’s most memorable achievement came in the 1968 World Series, where he pitched three complete-game victories, including a decisive Game 7 win over Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, helping the Tigers secure the championship.
After retiring from baseball in 1979, Lolich settled in Washington Township.
He ran a donut shop in Oakland County, first opening in Rochester before moving the business to Lake Orion in 1983.
The Detroit Tigers released a statement honoring Lolich’s remarkable career and lasting impact on the franchise:
“The Detroit Tigers are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Michael Stephen ‘Mickey’ Lolich, who passed away today at the age of 85.
Lolich spent 13 of his 16 Major League seasons with the Tigers (1963–1975), emerging as one of the most durable and dominant left-handed pitchers of his era and a cornerstone of Detroit’s pitching staff for more than a decade. He is perhaps best remembered for his legendary performance in the 1968 World Series, when he posted a 3–0 record with a 1.67 ERA in three complete-game victories – including a decisive Game 7 on two days’ rest – earning World Series Most Valuable Player honors.
Over the course of his career, Lolich accumulated a long list of accolades. He was a three-time American League All-Star (1969, 1971 and 1972) and finished second in Cy Young Award voting in 1971 when he led the league in wins (25), strikeouts (308), innings pitched and starts. He also placed fifth in MVP voting that same year and remained among the league’s elite pitchers in 1972.
Lolich’s consistency and durability were hallmarks of his Tigers tenure, posting seven campaigns with 200-plus strikeouts and won 14 or more games in 10 consecutive seasons. He holds several Tigers team records, including single-season strikeouts (308), career strikeouts (2,679), shutouts (39) and games started (459), and was the club’s Opening Day starter seven times. He also owns the lowest career postseason ERA (min. 40 IP) in Tigers history at 1.57.
Across his entire 16-year Major League career, Lolich appeared in 586 games and compiled a 217–191 record with a 3.44 ERA. He threw 41 shutouts and 195 complete games, completing nearly 40 percent of his starts – a testament to his remarkable endurance in an era of heavy workloads. At the time of his retirement, Lolich’s 2,832 career strikeouts were the most ever by a left-handed pitcher in Major League history, a mark he held until surpassed by Steve Carlton.
After retiring from baseball, Lolich was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.
Everyone with the Detroit Tigers extends their heartfelt condolences to Lolich’s wife Joyce and the entire Lolich family. His legacy — on and off the field — will forever be cherished."
Detroit Tigers