Dave McNally facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dave McNally |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: October 31, 1942 Billings, Montana, U.S. |
|||
| Died: December 1, 2002 (aged 60) Billings, Montana, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| September 26, 1962, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 8, 1975, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 184–119 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.24 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,512 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
David Arthur McNally (born October 31, 1942 – died December 1, 2002) was an American professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1975. He is best known for playing with the Baltimore Orioles. During his time, the Orioles were a very strong team. They won four American League titles and two World Series championships between 1966 and 1971.
McNally was chosen for the All-Star team three times. He also won 20 or more games for four years in a row, from 1968 to 1971. In 1971, he was one of four pitchers on the Orioles to win 20 games. This was a rare achievement, and no team has done it since then! The other pitchers were Pat Dobson, Jim Palmer, and Mike Cuellar.
McNally was born in Billings, Montana. His father passed away when Dave was very young. He was signed by the Orioles right after high school in 1960. Two years later, he made his first major league game special by pitching a shutout. This means the other team didn't score any runs!
Contents
Becoming a Baseball Star
Starting His Major League Journey (1962–1965)
Dave McNally joined the Orioles in 1962. In his very first game, he pitched a shutout against the Kansas City Athletics. He later said he was "scared to death" that day.
In 1963, he became a regular pitcher for the Orioles. He worked hard to improve his pitches. He even played winter baseball in Puerto Rico to get better. By 1965, he was a strong pitcher for the team. He won 11 games that year. He also stopped smoking during the season, which he felt helped him play better.
World Series Wins and Comeback (1966–1968)
In 1966, McNally helped the Orioles win the American League title. They then faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1966 World Series. In Game 4, McNally pitched a shutout, helping the Orioles win 1–0. This win gave the Orioles their first ever World Series championship! The Orioles pitchers set a record in that series by not allowing any runs for over 33 innings. A famous photo shows Brooks Robinson celebrating with McNally after the game.
In 1967, McNally had an elbow injury. This limited how much he could play. But he came back strong in 1968. He won 22 games and was named the Comeback Player of the Year. He was one of the best pitchers in the American League that year.
Three Straight World Series Appearances (1969–1971)
McNally had an amazing start to 1969, winning his first 15 games. He was selected for his first All-Star Game. He finished the season with 20 wins. In the playoffs, he pitched 11 shutout innings in a game against the Minnesota Twins. This is the longest shutout by a pitcher in postseason history! The Orioles won that game 1–0.
The Orioles played the New York Mets in the 1969 World Series. McNally even hit a home run in one game! But the Mets won the series in five games.
In 1970, McNally was an All-Star again. He tied for the most wins in the American League with 24. In the 1970 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, McNally did something incredible. He hit a grand slam! This means he hit a home run with the bases loaded, scoring four runs. He is the only pitcher in World Series history to hit a grand slam. The bat he used is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Orioles won the World Series that year, making McNally a champion for the second time.
In 1971, McNally had another great season. Even though he missed six weeks with an injury, he still won 21 games. He was one of four Orioles pitchers to win 20 games that year. This was a very special achievement. The Orioles reached the 1971 World Series again, but they lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in seven games.
Later Years with the Orioles (1972–1974)
In 1972, McNally was chosen for his third All-Star team. He had a good pitching record, but the Orioles' offense didn't score as many runs. This meant he ended the year with more losses than wins.
In 1973 and 1974, the Orioles made the playoffs again. They faced the Oakland Athletics both years. McNally pitched in these games, but the Orioles lost the series. After the 1974 season, McNally asked to be traded to a new team.
Playing for the Montreal Expos (1975)
McNally was traded to the Montreal Expos in 1975. He was their Opening Day pitcher. He won three of his first four games. However, he soon found he couldn't throw his fastball as well as before. He decided to retire from baseball in June 1975. He said he couldn't do a good job anymore, and he wasn't paid to do that.
A Big Moment for Baseball Players
Dave McNally played a very important role in baseball history. After he retired in 1975, he joined a legal case against a rule called the "reserve clause." This rule meant that once a player signed with a team, they were tied to that team forever. They couldn't choose to play for another team.
McNally and another player, Andy Messersmith, challenged this rule. They won their case, and it led to the end of the reserve clause. This decision created "free agency" in baseball. Now, players can choose which team they want to play for after their contract ends. McNally's part in this was very important, even though he had already retired.
Pitching Style
McNally used three main pitches: a fastball, a curveball, and a slider. He was very good at controlling his fastball. His teammates and coaches praised his curveball and slider too. He was known for mixing his pitches well to trick hitters. His pitching coach said, "There are pitchers who are faster and maybe have better curveballs, but the difference is McNally knows exactly how to use what he has."
Life After Baseball
After retiring from baseball, McNally moved back to his hometown of Billings, Montana. He worked in the automotive industry, running car dealerships. He enjoyed playing golf as a hobby.
Sadly, Dave McNally was diagnosed with cancer in 1997. He passed away in 2002.
Legacy
Dave McNally, along with Jim Palmer and Mike Cuellar, formed one of the best pitching groups in baseball history for the Orioles. His manager, Earl Weaver, called him "an unbelievable competitor" and a "100 percent gentleman."
McNally's name is still high on the Orioles' all-time lists for many pitching records:
- His 181 wins are second in team history.
- His 33 shutouts are also second.
- He ranks second in innings pitched and games started.
- He is third in strikeouts.
In 1978, Dave McNally was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame. He was also named Montana's Athlete of the Century in 1999.
Images for kids
-
Memorial Stadium was McNally's home ballpark during his time with the Orioles.
-
The Expos played home games at Jarry Park Stadium in 1975.
