MLB2d ago
Sam McDowell Dies at 84 After Career as Strikeout Leader and Counselor
The six-time All-Star spent much of his time in a Cleveland uniform before helping athletes with addiction and depression issues.
By OddsListing wire desk
· 2 min read
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Strong Career in the Majors
Sam McDowell compiled a 141-134 record over 15 seasons in 425 games with 346 starts. He recorded 2,453 strikeouts along with 103 complete games and 23 shutouts. The left-hander spent 11 of those seasons with Cleveland where he led the American League in strikeouts four times. In one season he posted a 17-11 mark while leading the league in ERA at 2.18 and strikeouts with 325. Another year brought a 20-12 record and a league-high 304 strikeouts.
Franchise Marks and Later Moves
McDowell posted a Cleveland franchise record of 9.21 strikeouts per nine innings. His 2,159 strikeouts with the club rank second all time. After the 1971 season Cleveland traded him to San Francisco. He later pitched for the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh as well. The six-time All-Star earned induction into the Cleveland hall of fame in 2006.
Work After Baseball
McDowell quit drinking in 1980 and earned an associate's degree in sports psychology and addictions from the University of Pittsburgh. He became certified as a counselor two years later and served as a recovery consultant for the Baseball Assistance Team. The organization recognized him with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. His experiences also inspired the Sam Malone character on the television show Cheers.
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