Mickey Lolich, Tigers great, 1968 World Series champion, dies at 85
1968 World Series Tigers hero Mickey Lolich dies at 85
Tigers pitching star Mickey Lolich passed away at 85 Wednesday, the team confirmed.
FOX 2 - Tigers great Mickey Lolich, a key member of the 1968 World Series champion team, has died at 85, the team has confirmed.
The backstory:
Lolich pitched three complete game wins in the World Series sparking Detroit's rally from a 3-1 series deficit, winning the Most Valuable Player Award.
By the time he retired in 1979, he was the all-time leader in strikeouts for a left-hander and is currently fifth. In overall career strikeouts, he is 23rd all-time with 2,832.
UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1967: Mickey Lolich #29 of the Detroit Tigers pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1967. Lolich played for the Tiger from 1963-75. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Lolich was traded in a package for Rusty Staub in 1975 to the New York Mets, but after retiring from baseball, settled in Michigan.
Lolich owned a doughnut shop in Rochester and later moved it to Lake Orion.
Tigers great Mickey Lolich dies at 85
The 1968 World Series champion pitcher was 85 and a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
A proud Tigers alumni group member, Lolich stayed active for years including coaching with the franchise's fantasy camp in Lakeland, Florida.
He is a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and a member of the Croatian-American Sports Hall of Fame.
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 09: Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mickey Lolich looks on during a Q & A session to honor the 50th anniversary of the 1968 Tigers World Championship prior to the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Comerica Park on