Lindy McDaniel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lindy McDaniel |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: December 13, 1935 Hollis, Oklahoma, U.S. |
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| Died: November 14, 2020 (aged 84) Carrollton, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 2, 1955, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 1975, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 141–119 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.45 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,361 | ||
| Saves | 174 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Lindy McDaniel, whose full name was Lyndall Dale McDaniel, was a famous American baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for 21 years, from 1955 to 1975. Lindy was born on December 13, 1935, and passed away on November 14, 2020.
During his long career, he played in about 3,500 major league games. He had over 300 different teammates and played for eight different managers. Lindy went to college at the University of Oklahoma and Abilene Christian College. He played for several teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, and Kansas City Royals. Lindy was also a minister for the Church of Christ.
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Lindy McDaniel's Baseball Journey
Lindy McDaniel was a talented pitcher who played for many teams. He started his career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Later, he joined the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants. He then moved to the American League to play for the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals.
All-Star Seasons and Top Saves
Lindy was chosen for the All-Star team in 1960. This is a big honor for a baseball player. He was known for his ability to get "saves." A save happens when a pitcher finishes a close game without letting the other team score too much.
- He led the league in saves three times:
- 1959 with 16 saves
- 1960 with 27 saves
- 1963 with 22 saves
Lindy also won the The Sporting News Reliever of the Year award twice. He won it in 1960 while playing for the Cardinals and again in 1963 with the Cubs. In 1970, playing for the New York Yankees, he had his best year for saves with 29! This tied a team record.
Family in Baseball
Lindy wasn't the only baseball player in his family. His brother, Von, also became a major league pitcher. Another brother, Kerry, played in the minor leagues.
Amazing Moments in Lindy's Career
Lindy McDaniel had many memorable moments during his time in baseball. He was known for his control and ability to get batters out.
Impressive Pitching Streaks
In August 1968, Lindy had an amazing streak. He got 32 batters out in a row over four games. In one of those games, he pitched seven perfect innings against the Detroit Tigers. This means no one on the other team reached base.
In 1973, he pitched for 13 innings in one game, giving up only one run. His team won that game 2–1. Lindy also set a record in the National League. He played in 225 games in a row without making an error as a pitcher.
Best Seasons and Awards
Lindy thought his best year was 1960 with the St. Louis Cardinals. That year, he had a record of 12 wins and 2 losses as a relief pitcher. He also had 22 saves and a very low ERA of 1.29. An ERA shows how many runs a pitcher allows per nine innings. A lower ERA is better.
In 1960, he was named "Fireman of the Year." This award goes to the best relief pitcher. He also finished third for the Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher in each league. He was even fifth in the voting for the MVP award.
He also had great seasons in 1970 with the Yankees and 1963 with the Cubs. In June 1960, he was named Player of the Month.
Unique Baseball Records
Lindy McDaniel holds a unique record in MLB history. He pitched in the most regular season games (987) without ever playing in the postseason. That's a lot of games!
He was also the last pitcher for the New York Yankees to hit a home run before the "designated hitter" rule started in 1973. This rule means a player who doesn't pitch bats for the pitcher. His home run in 1972 was also the last one hit by a pitcher at Tiger Stadium.
Lindy McDaniel's Passing
Lindy McDaniel passed away on November 14, 2020, at the age of 84. He died from COVID-19.
See also
- List of St. Louis Cardinals team records
- The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award
- List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
