McLain's 31 W's Led 1968 Detroit to World Series
Cy Young Award Winner and AL MVP Opposed NL's Bob Gibson
Denny McLain ended the Detroit Tigers' regular schedule with 31 wins, an all-time record that still stands, but in the World Series he was to oppose a man with nearly unbeatable stats in the fall classic, the St. Louis Cardinals' Bob Gibson.
Two Players Get MVP and Cy Young
The two polar opposites -- Gibson was notably quiet, McLain notably outspoken -- had collected all four major post-season awards in their sport. The Most Valuable Player award was generally reserved for the year's best batsman/fielder, and the Cy Young, the season's best pitcher. In 1968, the four trophies most representative of the two leagues were split just two ways.
Headed to the World Series for the first time since 1945, Detroit was again operating on all cylinders, as Al Kaline had returned to the lineup after having his right arm broken on May 25 from an incoming pitch by Lew Krausse of the Oakland Athletics. The Tigers had enjoyed outstanding years from pinch hitting Gates Brown, leftfielder Wilie Horton, the young Jim Northrup, Kaline's temporary replacement in right field, the acrobatic athletic Mickey Stanley in centerfield, third baseman Don Wert, second baseman Dick McAuliffe, catcher Bill Freehan, and others.
1968 Detroit Tigers Season Statistics
McLain, Dennis "Denny" Dale -- W, 31 -- L, 6 -- CG, 28 -- SHO, 6 -- IP, 336 -- H, 241 -- R, 86 -- HR, 31 -- HB, 6 -- BB,63 -- IBB, 2 -- SO, 280 -- ERA, 1.96 -- Voted Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award winner, American League
Freehan, William "Bill" Ashley -- catcher -- G, 155 -- AB, 540 -- SO, 64 -- BB, 65 -- IBB, 4 -- HP, 24 -- R, 7 -- H, 142 -- 2B, 24 -- 3B, 2 -- HR, 25 -- RBI, 84 -- AVG, .263
Cash, Norman Dalton --first baseman -- G, 127 -- AB, 411 -- SO, 70 -- BB, 39 -- IBB, 7 -- HP, 3 -- R, 50 -- H, 108 -- 2B, 15 -- 3B, 1 -- HR, 25 -- RBI, 63 -- AVG, .263
McAuliffe, Richard "Dick" John -- second baseman -- G, 151 -- AB, 570 -- SO, 99 -- BB, 82 -- IBB, 8 -- HP, 2 -- R, 95 -- H, 142 -- 2B, 24 -- 3B, 10 -- HR, 16 -- RBI, 56 -- AVG, .249
Oyler, Raymond "Ray" Francis -- shortstop -- G, 111 -- AB, 215 -- SO, 59 -- BB, 20 -- IBB, 0 -- HP, 2 -- R, 13 -- H, 29 -- 2B, 6 -- 3B,1 -- HR, 1 -- RBI, 12 -- AVG, .135
Wert, Donald "Don" Ralph -- third baseman -- G, 150 -- AB, 536 -- SO, 79 -- BB, 37 -- IBB, 7 -- HP, 5 -- R, 44 -- H, 107 -- 2B, 15 -- 3B, 1 -- HR, 12 -- RBI, 37 -- AVG, .200
Horton, Willie Watterson -- leftfielder -- G, 143 -- AB, 512 -- SO, 110 -- BB, 49 -- IBB, 8 -- HP, 8 -- R, 68 -- H, 146 -- 2B, 20 -- 3B, 2 -- HR, 36 -- RBI, 85 -- AVG, .285
Stanley, Mitchell "Mickey" Jack -- centerfielder -- G, 153 -- AB, 583 -- SO, 57 -- BB, 42 -- IBB, 1 -- HP, 4 -- R, 88 -- H, 151 -- 2B, 16 -- 3B, 6 -- HR, 11 -- RBI, 60 -- AVG, .259
Northrup, James "Jim" Thomas -- rightfielder -- G, 154 -- AB, 580 -- SO, 87 -- BB, 50 -- IBB, 4 -- HP, 4 -- R, 76 -- H, 153 -- 2B, 29 -- 3B, 7 -- HR, 21 -- RBI, 90 -- AVG, .264
Kaline, Albert "Al" William -- rightfielder -- G, 102 -- AB, 327 -- SO, 39 -- BB, 55 -- IBB, 7 -- HP, 3 -- R, 49 -- H, 94 -- 2B, 14 -- 3B, 1 -- HR, 10 -- RBI, 53 -- AVG, .287
