So he went from being the long-time Tiger Ace (and best Tiger- the 1968 World Series was won by him- and also almost the 1972 Playoffs) to just a nobody for New York- can you blame him for this back-stabbing trade by Tiger management? February 25, 2003 January 12, 2011 His not being elected to Cooperstown is a major oversight. Mickey Lolich is one of my favorite players. Man, he was a big one. Rusty has always been a fan favorite so if you're going to trade him it better be worth it, and to most of us Mets fans Lolich wasn't. Raymond Malcuit Jr. Mickey did a few good games with the Mets as well as a couple shutouts. Maybe when he was 15 years old he was 170, but at no point in his major league career was he ever 170. HmmBaseball Reference.com is usually beyond redoubt, but I would say with almost unimpeachable certainty that Mickey Lolich weighed somewhere in the vicinity of 240 by the time he was huffing and puffing his way up the pitchers mound at Shea in 1976.Another awful trade, courtesy of M. Donald Grant, who couldn't wait to run Rusty Staub (coming off a team-record setting 105 RBI season) out of town, weeks after Mrs. Payson passed away. He served up a home run, and my mother screamed "Lolich, you fat jerk, you stink!!!" June 30, 2019 Take a look at his stats on baseball-reference and you will shake your head. No contest. October 4, 2005 Shickhaus Franks What an interesting parallel, huh? Mickey Lolich so despised the Mets experience that he sat home and ate donuts for a year rather than play again in New York. I wish the Mets had a pitcher today with a 3.22 ERA. . But in his final season with the Tigers, he became the all-time leader in strikeouts for left-handed pitchers. I simply loved to see him walk onto the mound; I knew that we as a ball club would be a winner any time he pitched, but as they always say time moves on, but our memory is always around. However, it baffled me why the '76 Mets, who had Seaver, Koosman and Matlack, would trade one of their best hitters and an every-day player (and they didn't have that many good hitters) for a fourth or fifth starting pitcher. April 23, 2003 Mike B He later came back to play for the Padres. Or even a platoon as Vail was righty, and Milner was lefty.In the days of 4-man rotation, Seaver-Koosman-Matlack had them covered 75% of the time. (thankfully returning in '81). For a fourth starter, on a four man rotation, Lolich was decent. 170 lbs.? November 12, 2006 May 8, 2003 In his first full season 1964, Mickey Lolich went 18-9 an ERA of 3.26. Or even a platoon as Vail was righty, and Milner was lefty.In the days of 4-man rotation, Seaver-Koosman-Matlack had them covered 75% of the time. So Wood handed Lolich two of his 14 losses that season, and two of Wood's 22 wins came against Mickey. Koufax would have 175 by the All-Star Break. (And of course Donald Grant) The Mets had to fill 2 corner outfield spots and first base. But I have to say, I laughed out loud when I saw his physical statistics on this site. NO WAY he was 170 pounds. Mets history broken down into ten-year chunks! Mike B I saw Lolich pitch at Shea on July 29, 1976, a Thursday afternoon game following morning showers, probably a getaway game, attended by a sparse crowd of 12,588. October 4, 2005 He later resurfaced with the Padres. May 8, 2003 Lolich committed to playing 2 years for the Mets, but then reneged on that promise. Stu Baron Mickey was a great pitcher but was not happy in New York. Grant was a real hindrance to the Mets. Mickey had a lifetime 3.44 ERA and 2832 strikeouts. To this day she still despises Mickey Lolich. Dianna Jeanneh Jones August 7, 2018 If he had finished his career in Detroit, he probably would have been elected to the Hall Of Fame, with perhaps two more seasons of 15 wins. November 3, 2006 But in his final season with the Tigers, he became the all-time leader in strikeouts for left-handed pitchers. The two 13-inning games didn't even count for complete games because they went 15 innings! I used to think that Lolich sucked with the Mets, but after reviewing his stats and starts from that year, he was a damn effective #4 starter. November 12, 2006 He started 45 games and completed 29. News. He made the all- star team 3 times, led the AL in wins once, shutouts once, complete games once, innings once, strikeouts once, and losses TWICE. Lolich - donuts Staub - steak.The food metaphor of trading a steak for a donut is accurate in this and many Mets trades.Would love to see a book written with lists and analysis of all Mets trades. Lolich was a good one, underrated and dominating at times. He pitched over 300 innings for 4 years in a row, coming close to 400 one year. All he represents for me was one of the many horrendous choices the Mets have made over the years, always going after washed up has-beens past their prime. He normally threw lots of pitches and completed a high percentage of his games. The fact that he pitched four consecutive 300+ inning years; that's like 10 years in today's game. Mickey did a few good games with the Mets as well as a couple shutouts. Grant was a real hindrance to the Mets. Bob P support. Lolich pitched fairly well with the Mets, in fact I recall a 2-0 shutout at Shea he pitched against the Cardinals in about two hours. Raymond Malcuit Jr. Koufax would have 175 by the All-Star Break. Lolich may have been a great pitcher once, but by 1976 he was a has-been. March 5, 2006 Mike B I simply loved to see him walk onto the mound; I knew that we as a ball club would be a winner any time he pitched, but as they always say time moves on, but our memory is always around. And of course Lolich did not want to be here, and the fans did not want him here either, so I am sure that's why he skipped town the next year. Bobster1985 Rusty loved New York and the Mets, and wanted to finish his career here. Three bad starts on 8/3 and 8/13 as well as his next to last start on 9/15 is what really bloated his ERA, not that 3.22 even in the '70s was that shabby.Yes, he was far removed from his prime but to say he sucked is pretty short sighted and flies in the face of the fact that he pitched well enough to be a 12-15 game winner, but then this is the same year Seaver pitched Cy Young caliber ball and went only 14-11. You have to remember that any ERA of 3.00 and over back in the 1970's was not a good stat. He is popular for being a Baseball Player. But I have to say, I laughed out loud when I saw his physical statistics on this site. Mickey Lolich did not do too bad with the Mets, He just did not get the The Staub trade was ridiculous but not Lolich's fault. Bobster1985 Although I'd rather have a hitter like Rusty, you have to admit, Mickey Lolich's ERA was a very respectable 3.22. His not being elected to Cooperstown is a major oversight. Gary from Chesapeake Shari I was 7 years old, listening to the Mets on the radio in the car with my mother. Another guy who didn't get enough run support, and - yes - he ended up being blamed for the Staub trade rather than Grant himself. Dianna Jeanneh Jones So when your "inning eater" goes 220 and gets a bonus it's beyond comprehension. The point is he made a bad team worse. In his first full season 1964, Mickey Lolich went 18-9 an ERA of 3.26. OK it was a terrible trade. Kooz Al Raymond Malcuit June 2, 2006 January 12, 2011 Raymond Malcuit He never had much to say about Lolich's donut shop though. Mike B NYB Buff Dianna Jeanneh Jones His era of 3.22 is only .09% more than 20-game winner Carlton for the Phils. snook As it is, he was traded to a team with a set of already existent aces- Seaver and Koosman. Mickey Lolich is one of my favorite players. As it is, he was traded to a team with a set of already existent aces- Seaver and Koosman. Mickey loved his Harley. September 12, 2002 6'1", 170???? Bartolo Colon etc). He told the New York Press, he pitched with his head and arm not his abdomen. October 18, 2008 170 lbs.? Shickhaus Franks Mickey loved his Harley. Lolich won complete games in Games 2 & 5 and faced and beat Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 by the score of 4-1 as the Tigers won the World Championship. bogeyman And of course Lolich did not want to be here, and the fans did not want him here either, so I am sure that's why he skipped town the next year. The Tigers had some great years back in the late 60's and early 70's- much like the Mets. He pitched over 300 innings for 4 years in a row, coming close to 400 one year. October 19, 2011 Al He made the all- star team 3 times, led the AL in wins once, shutouts once, complete games once, innings once, strikeouts once, and losses TWICE.He finished second (1971) and third (1972) in the Cy Young race, and he never finished higher than TENTH PLACE in the league in ERA (finished tenth in both 1971 and 1972).Baseball Reference lists among his top ten in similarity scores: Jerry Koosman, Jerry Reuss, Rick Reuschel, Luis Tiant, Vida Blue, and Joe Niekro.All of that tells me Lolich in his prime was a good pitcher, but nowhere near a HOFer. He served up a home run, and my mother screamed "Lolich, you fat jerk, you stink!!!" Raymond Malcuit Jr. Then they all got old and the team slid into rebuilding- different than the Mets? Jim Snedeker June 30, 2019 I guess the idea that everyone loves a jolly fat guy is true. In my opinion, there are only three candidates for worst trade in Mets history:1) Staub for Lolich 2) the Ryan trade 3) the Seaver tradeI believe the Seaver trade was the worst, for obvious reasons. September 24, 2005 CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Posted on Dec 21st, 2010, 8:40 AM, , User Since 218 months ago, User Post Count: 8573, Posted on Dec 21st, 2010, 9:23 AM, , User Since 145 months ago, User Post Count: 1945, Posted on Dec 21st, 2010, 9:26 AM, , User Since 145 months ago, User Post Count: 4305, Posted on Dec 21st, 2010, 9:31 AM, , User Since 145 months ago, User Post Count: 513, Posted on Dec 21st, 2010, 9:32 AM, , User Since 145 months ago, User Post Count: 1345, Posted on Dec 21st, 2010, 9:38 AM, , User Since 145 months ago, User Post Count: 1945, Posted on Dec 21st, 2010, 10:22 AM, , User Since 145 months ago, User Post Count: 8042, Posted on Dec 21st, 2010, 10:43 AM, , User Since 145 months ago, User Post Count: 4305, Locked Topic - No more replies can be posted. July 15, 2016 by Scott Ferkovich on September 9, 2016. He also hit a home run in Game Two of the Series and outpitched Denny "31 Win" McClain in the Series. And complaining about how fat he was? The Lolich for Rusty Staub trade might be the first and only trade where two players who were well known for food establishments were traded for each other. October 19, 2011 November 19, 2002 I have to respectfully disagree with NYB Buff's claim that Lolich belongs in Cooperstown. June 30, 2019 feat fan Lolich may have gone 8-13 in 1976 but Koosman did even worse the next two years (1977 and 1978). Mickey was at the tail end of his career when he came to the Mets. Two quick points that haven't been mentioned: Another guy who didn't get enough run support, and - yes - he ended up being blamed for the Staub trade rather than Grant himself. Fact is Lolich was always overweight. I remember when M. Donald Grant traded Staub for Lolich he explained it to disgusted NY sports fans by saying something like "the team needs more speed. - Now for the trade itself. Believe me if he pitched like the ace he was in Detroit no one here would have been so quick to criticize the trade. body would be a pretty slender person. He told the New York Press, he pitched with his head and arm not his abdomen. Mickey Lolich did not do too bad with the Mets, He just did not get the Donut Shoppe Patron June 2, 2006 December 13, 2007 June 2, 2006 So when your "inning eater" goes 220 and gets a bonus it's beyond comprehension. Executives, General Managers, Broadcasters, and more. Maybe when he was 15 years old he was 170, but at no point in his major league career was he ever 170. Mr. Sparkle Al Maybe when he was 15 years old he was 170, but at no point in his major league career was he ever 170. To the guy who scored the game when Lolich gave up two homers to the no name pitcher- big deal? December 20, 2019 Having this claim (in addition to his World Series MVP) is definitely worthy of the Hall of Fame. Mickey Lolich was one of the greatest left-handers of all-time, no matter his size or shape. 6'1", 170???? Mike B Lolich hit a home run in the World Series- and so what does that mean, that he was a great hitter? Man, he was a big one. July 31, 2002 Two quick points that haven't been mentioned:- It was Mike Vail's fantastic debut that led the Mets to believe they had a replacement for Staub. John Bruce I recall one year where he had 121 RBI's. May 6, 2003 Gary from Chesapeake Jim Snedeker Dianna Jeanneh Jones Lolich may have gone 8-13 in 1976 but Koosman did even worse the next two years (1977 and 1978). In San Diego they had a fan club for him called the Mickey Lolich Gut Club. I simply loved to see him walk onto the mound; I knew that we as a ball club would be a winner any time he pitched, but as they always say time moves on, but our memory is always around. Not to say the trade wasn't awful - but come on! May 25, 2001 Having this claim (in addition to his World Series MVP) is definitely worthy of the Hall of Fame. As somebody mentioned previously, this is really all Mike Vail's fault. He may have left behind a fine legacy in Detroit but when he got to New York he stunk.You weren't happy with Rusty and we weren't happy with Lolich, so let's just call the trade a wash. Case closed. Rusty could hit with the lights out. August 7, 2018 July 15, 2016 October 4, 2005 Peter Lolich won complete games in Games 2 & 5 and faced and beat Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 by the score of 4-1 as the Tigers won the World Championship. He said he put it all together in 1971. What a sore disapppointment it was to see Staub take over rightfield (with his gnat's piss arm) after watching Kaline out in right all of those years in Detroit. The prices shown are the lowest prices available for Mickey Lolich the last time we updated. Anybody remember how Rusty looked those last few years in New York? Mickey Lolich so despised the Mets experience that he sat home and ate donuts for a year rather than play again in New York. Feat Fan Mickey had a lifetime 3.44 ERA and 2832 strikeouts. In his first full season 1964, Mickey Lolich went 18-9 an ERA of 3.26. I'll start with full disclosure: I was (and still am) bitter that the Mets gave up one of my favorite players, Rusty Staub, to get Lolich-- who was well past his prime. Man, he was a big one. And of course Lolich did not want to be here, and the fans did not want him here either, so I am sure that's why he skipped town the next year. The Staub trade was ridiculous but not Lolich's fault. Usually a bad trade doesn't reveal itself as bad until later when the player that came clearly is not working out. According to his profile above, his height and weight are listed as follows:Height: 6.01 Weight: 170170 pounds on a 6 ft. 1 in. body would be a pretty slender person. 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