On September 14, 1968, at Tiger Stadium in front of a nationally televised audience, McLain pitched the Tigers to a 5-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics to become Major League Baseball ’ s first 30-game winner since.

After the season, when McLain was asked about Lolich's performance in the World Series, he responded controversially by saying: “ I wouldn ’ t trade one Bob Gibson for 12 Mickey Loliches .”

Despite the troubles, McLain had another productive season in 1969, winning 24 games and won a second consecutive Cy Young Award, tying with Baltimore ’ s Mike Cuellar, marking the first time two players had shared the award.

Early in his career, McLain ’ s interest in betting on horses was piqued by Chuck Dressen, one of his first managers.

McLain ’ s Independent Colorado Volunteer Battery-1864

The deal — alleged by onetime Senators broadcaster Shelby Whitfield to have been made in order to secure the Tigers ' vote in favor of the Senators ' eventual move to Texas — turned Detroit back into contenders, while McLain was a monumental bust, losing an embarrassing league-worst of 22 games.

His final major league appearance came on September 12 against the Cincinnati Reds ; he came into a tied game in the ninth and promptly gave up three runs without retiring a batter, taking the loss ( coincidentally, the last batter McLain ever faced in the major leagues was none other than Pete Rose, who would also be ensnared in a gambling scandal years later ).

When that season ended, Short dealt his best starting pitcher and the left side of his infield to the Detroit Tigers for erstwhile 30-game-winner Denny McLain, who had spent most of the 1970 campaign suspended because of gambling allegations.

McLain soon realized that he and the Pepsi rep shared an affinity for gambling ; when the two realized how much money they were losing, and that they could earn so much more by " taking the action " on bets, they attempted to set up a bookmaking operation as hands-off, silent partners.

Then, in 1970, the team fell to 79 – 83 in a season marked by the suspension of McLain amid gambling allegations.

McLain was brash and outspoken, sometimes creating controversy by criticizing teammates and fans with little provocation.

McLain was born in Markham, Illinois and attended Mt.

McLain was also musically talented, learning to play the organ from his father.

Upon his graduation from high school in June 1962, McLain was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent and was assigned to play with the Harlan Smokies of the Appalachian League.

The White Sox left McLain in the minor leagues and he was subsequently selected off waivers by the Detroit Tigers on April 8, 1963.

McLain began the 1964 season with the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League, but was soon promoted back to the major leagues in early June and ended the season with a won-loss record of 4-5.

McLain had an off year, finishing with a 17 – 16 record and a 3. 79 earned run average and was winless after August 29.

After the game, McLain smilingly denied that he had served up an easy pitch for Mantle to hit, however, he was later reprimanded by Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

In January 1969, McLain was selected as the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year.

McLain was a non-comformist and liked to play by his own rules.

McLain was suspended indefinitely by Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn ; the suspension was then set for the first three months of the 1970 season.

On October 9, 1970, McLain was traded by the Detroit Tigers with Elliott Maddox, Norm McRae and Don Wert to the Washington Senators for Joe Coleman, Eddie Brinkman, Jim Hannan and Aurelio Rodríguez.

Kuhn actually had to clear the trade because McLain was still under suspension, and suspended players can't be traded without the commissioner's permission.

The McLain trade was made over the strenuous objections of Senators manager Ted Williams, who had little patience for McLain's high living.

After the 1971 season, McLain was traded to the Oakland Athletics for journeyman pitcher Jim Panther and prospect Don Stanhouse ( who would go on to have a few good years as the Baltimore Orioles ' closer in the late 1970s ).

McLain was a three-time All-Star and won the Cy Young Award twice in his career.

Jacob McLain was the first brickmaker and hatter in the town and township ; Garnett Whitelock, the first blacksmith.

It should be noted that in 1832 the first Lightship on the Great Lakes -- the Lois McLain -- was placed at Waugoshance Shoal.

) Bob McLain, the publisher and editor of Gaming Universal, further popularized the hobby by writing articles that appeared in many of the leading mainstream gaming magazines of the time.

In, McLain became the last pitcher in Major League Baseball to win 30 or more games during a season ( 31 – 6 )— a feat accomplished by only thirteen players in the 20th century.

In 1966, McLain had a 13-4 record by mid-season to earn the role of starting pitcher for the American League in the 1966 All-Star Game, where he retired all nine batters that he faced with just 28 pitches.

When the Tigers began the 1968 season in first place, winning nine consecutive games after losing the season opening game, McLain made controversial statements in early May by criticizing Detroit fans for being, " the biggest front-running fans in the world.

McLain responded by throwing the next pitch over Pepitone's head.

Trailing three games to two, McLain won the crucial Game 6 on just two days ' rest, aided by a grand slam home run from Jim Northrup.

Sports Illustrated cited sources who alleged that the foot injury suffered by McLain late in had been caused by an organized crime figure stomping on it for McLain's failure to pay off on a bet.

By this time, McLain had serious arm trouble, inadvertently made worse by numerous cortisone shots he took for his sore arm.

The Town of McLain is served by the Greene County School District.

The Town of McLain is also served by the Mclain Attendance Center.

Gibson next pitched in Game 4 of the 1968 World Series, defeating the Tigers ' ace pitcher Denny McLain by a 10-1 score.

After Bob Gibson had defeated McLain in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series, Lolich helped the Tigers recover by allowing only one run to win Game 2 by a score of 8-1.

McLain made a spectacular debut in professional baseball, throwing a no hitter and striking out 16 batters in a game against the Salem Rebels on June 28.

McLain also made appearances on The Steve Allen Show and the The Joey Bishop Show.