Member of the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame

6 Time American League All Star

Led the American League in Strike Outs 5 times

Named 1970 American League Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News

Autographed Book; The Saga of Sudden Sam...

(1942-) He played in Major League Baseball as a starting pitcher from 1961 to 1975, most notably for the Cleveland Indians. He also had short stints late in his career with the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, and Pittsburgh Pirates. A six-time All-Star, McDowell led the American League in strikeouts five times, and struck out over 300 batters in two seasons of his career. Standing 6 feet, 5 inches tall, well built, and powerful, his left-handed fastball was delivered with an unusually calm pitching motion, and then he would regularly unleash pitches at over 100 m.p.h., not that common in the 1960's, (his fastest pitch was timed at 105 m.p.h.) which led to his memorable nickname, "Sudden Sam." McDowell finished with 2,453 career strikeouts and an average of 8.86 strikeouts per nine innings. At the time of his retirement, his strikeout rate was bested by only two pitchers; Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax. He ranks eighth all time on the list of career ten or more strikeout games with 74, tied with Bob Gibson. His 2,159 strikeouts as an Indian place him second all time on the team's career list, behind Bob Feller. In four All-Star appearances, McDowell struck out twelve National League All-Stars in eight innings of work.

Statistics of Sam McDowell in 1965 and 1970:

In 1965, Sam McDowell led the American League in the following key pitching categories:

E.R.A.: 2.18
Strike Outs: 325
Average Strike Outs per 9 Innings: 10.7
Average Hits Given up per 9 Innings: 5.9
Average Home Runs Given up per 9 Innings: 0.3

These amazing stats are comparable to the best pitchers in MLB history during any generation!

In 1970, McDowell put together some extremely impressive pitching totals as well. He won 20 games, he led the American League in innings pitched with 305, and he also had over 300 strikeouts (304) for the second time in his MLB career. He threw a career-high 19 complete games, second in the American League that year to Mike Cuellar of the Baltimore Orioles, the 1970 American League, and World Series Champions. All this was combined with a stellar 2.92 ERA, and these stats led to Sam McDowell being named the "1970 American League Pitcher of the Year" by The Sporting News.

McDowell ended up with a career total of 141 wins, a 3.17 E.R.A., and 2,453 strike outs, these mainly coming during his 11 years spent with the Cleveland Indians, a perennial last place, or bottom of the league ball club. We can only imagine what kind of record Mr. McDowell could have compiled if he played for a winning baseball team?

The character of Sam Malone, the alcoholic ex-Boston Red Sox pitcher portrayed by Emmy Award winning actor Ted Danson, in the hit television comedy "Cheers," was based on the baseball life of Sam McDowell.

Sam McDowell Trivia: Although Sam did pretty well in his head to head engagements against this particular Hall of Fame player, Sam personally told me that "Mickey Mantle, of the New York Yankees," was the toughest hitter he ever faced in his Major League Baseball career.

Autographed Book: "The Saga Of Sudden Sam; the Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Sam McDowell." Written by Sam McDowell, with Martin Gitlin. Foreword by Steve Garvey. Hard cover with dust jacket, 171 pages, illustrated, and with index. Beautifully autographed in black ink, on the first inside blank page, "Best wishes, Sam McDowell." Acquired directly from Mr. McDowell who is a neighbor friend of mine here in Florida. Choice, brand new condition.