Card stack
Cleveland strikeout king Sam McDowell dies at 84, leaving a legacy of redemption
Compiled Oct 6
What happened
Sam McDowell died Monday at his home in The Villages, Florida, at age 84.
The detail
He was a six-time All-Star who led the American League in strikeouts four times.
The detail
McDowell had a 15-year major league career (1961-74), including 11 seasons with Cleveland.
The detail
His career record was 141-134 in 425 games, with 2,453 strikeouts, 103 complete games and 23 shutouts.
How it unfolded
1961-74: McDowell's 15-year major league career, including 11 seasons with Cleveland. · 1963: McDowell attempted suicide, surviving because the gun's chamber held a dead shell. · 1965: He led the AL in ERA (2.18) and strikeouts (325), going 17-11. · 1970: He went 20-12, leading the AL in both strikeouts (304) and walks (131). · after 1971 season: Cleveland traded McDowell to San Francisco. · 1980: McDowell quit drinking and later earned a sports psychology/addictions degree.
By the numbers
84 age at death · 141-134 career win-loss record · 2,453 career strikeouts · 325 1965 strikeouts · 9.21 strikeouts per nine innings