Today I go ahead and give long time relief pitcher Lindy McDaniel a "Then and Now" card.
Check it out:
McDaniel put in a nice 21-year career in the Major Leagues, collecting a 141-119 record with 174 saves over 987 games.
He just missed becoming the second pitcher all-time to reach 1000
appearances, where he could have joined Hoyt Wilhelm in the exclusive
club.
He pitched for five organizations during his career: the Cardinals,
Yankees, Giants, Cubs and Royals before retiring after the 1975 season.
In 1960 he put in a heck of a year, finishing third in Cy Young
voting as well as fifth in MVP balloting, based on his 12-4 record with a
sparkling2.09 earned run average with a league-leading 27 saves over 65
games and 116.1 innings pitched.
He'd also lead the league in saves two other times, in 1959 with 16 and in 1963 with 22 as a member of the Cubs.
In 1970 he actually posted his career high, now with the Yankees, of 29 saves, along with a 9-5 record and a 2.01 E.R.A.
Certainly a fine career that deserves a bit more attention that it gets these days.
