Lindy McDaniel
Encyclopedia
Lyndall Dale McDaniel, known as Lindy (born December 13, 1935, in Hollis, Oklahoma
) is a right-handed former relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who had a 21-year career from 1955 to 1975. During McDaniel's career he witnessed approximately 3,500 major league games (not including spring training), had more than 300 teammates, and played under eight different managers. An alumnus of the University of Oklahoma
, he played with the St. Louis Cardinals
, Chicago Cubs
, and San Francisco Giants
, all of the National League
, and the New York Yankees
and Kansas City Royals
, both of the American League
.
team in 1960. He led the league in saves in 1959 (15), 1960 (26), and 1963 (22). He was named as the The Sporting News Reliever of the Year
for the National League in 1960 (the award's inaugural year) as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals
, and in 1963 as a member of the Chicago Cubs
.
With the New York Yankees in 1970, McDaniel amassed a career high 29 saves, tying the franchise record set by Luis Arroyo in 1961.
"A number of factors have contributed to my longevity," Lindy reports. "Freedom from serious injury, an easy pitching delivery, clean living and good conditioning, a high motivation level, a strong belief in God—especially during times of adversity—the opportunity to pitch and self-discipline."
His brother Von
was also a major league pitcher. His other brother, Kerry, also played in the minor leagues.
A member of the Church of Christ
, McDaniel also wrote a monthly newsletter
entitled Pitching for the Master, published from his church in Baytown, Texas
. It was distributed to his fellow church members as well as all the other Major League Baseball
players and their families during his playing career.
.In 1973, he entered the game in the 1st inning against the Tigers in Detroit, and pitched 13 innings giving up one run and winning game 2 to 1. McDaniel played in 225 consecutive games in National League without committing an error—a record.
He considers his top overall year as 1960 with the St. Louis Cardinals when he logged a 12-2 mark in relief with 22 saves and an E.R.A. of 1.29 while being named to the National League All-Star team and earned Fireman-of-the Year honors. He ranks his next best year as 1970 with the Yankees when he was 9-5 with a career high 29 saves and 2.01 ERA followed by the 1963 season when he was 13-7 with 21 saves and a 2.88 ERA.
McDaniel won Fireman-of-the Year honors in 1960 and 1963. He also led the National League in relief pitching in 1959, but that was the year before the first Fireman-of-the-year award was presented. With nine saves and a 0.74 ERA, McDaniel was named the Player of the Month
for June 1960.
native had many outstanding single-game performances, but in a 1963 outing against the San Francisco Giants
stands out the most in his mind. It came June 6 when he was pitching for the Chicago Cubs
.
"I'll always remember it. The Giants came to Wrigley Field
in first place and were leading the Cubs by four games at the time. We swept the first three games and the fans were going wild. A win in the final contest would put us in a tie for first place. We had another capacity crowd, and the score was tied in the top of the tenth inning. I came in to relieve Dick Ellsworth
, our starting pitcher, with the bases loaded and one out. The first thing I did, with the help of the catcher and shortstop, was to pick Willie Mays
off second base, and then I struck out Ed Bailey
to get us out of the jam. I received a standing ovation
when I walked to the dugout. I was the first batter up in the bottom of the tenth and hit a home run to win the game. As I rounded the bases, I was received by the entire ballclub at home plate and was given a very prolonged standing ovation from the fans. You know about those Cub fans!"
Hollis, Oklahoma
-Additional information:Hollis is a close-knit community which only has one stoplight at the corner of Highway 62 and Highway 30, the only two main highways that pass through the town. It features the Hollis Municipal Airport located north of the town on Highway 30 and the Hollis Livestock...
) is a right-handed former relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who had a 21-year career from 1955 to 1975. During McDaniel's career he witnessed approximately 3,500 major league games (not including spring training), had more than 300 teammates, and played under eight different managers. An alumnus of the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, he played with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, and San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, all of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, and the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, both of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
.
Baseball career
McDaniel was named to the National League All-StarMajor League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team in 1960. He led the league in saves in 1959 (15), 1960 (26), and 1963 (22). He was named as the The Sporting News Reliever of the Year
The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award
The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award was established in 1960 by The Sporting News as TSN Fireman of the Year Award. The award originally recognized the best closer from each league, but in 2001 the award was broadened to include all relievers...
for the National League in 1960 (the award's inaugural year) as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, and in 1963 as a member of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
With the New York Yankees in 1970, McDaniel amassed a career high 29 saves, tying the franchise record set by Luis Arroyo in 1961.
"A number of factors have contributed to my longevity," Lindy reports. "Freedom from serious injury, an easy pitching delivery, clean living and good conditioning, a high motivation level, a strong belief in God—especially during times of adversity—the opportunity to pitch and self-discipline."
His brother Von
Von McDaniel
Max Von McDaniel was an American professional baseball player. Initially a right-handed pitcher, he was a rookie sensation at age 18 when, just days out of high school, he pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout for the St. Louis Cardinals in his first Major League start against the defending...
was also a major league pitcher. His other brother, Kerry, also played in the minor leagues.
A member of the Church of Christ
Church of Christ
Churches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically,...
, McDaniel also wrote a monthly newsletter
Newsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
entitled Pitching for the Master, published from his church in Baytown, Texas
Baytown, Texas
Baytown is a city within Harris County and partially in Chambers County in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. state of Texas. Located within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, it lies along both State Highway 146 and Interstate 10. As of 2010, Baytown had an population of 71,802...
. It was distributed to his fellow church members as well as all the other Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
players and their families during his playing career.
Career highlights
Over a four-game span, McDaniel retired 32 straight hitters in August 1968. In one of those games, he pitched 7 perfect innings against the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.In 1973, he entered the game in the 1st inning against the Tigers in Detroit, and pitched 13 innings giving up one run and winning game 2 to 1. McDaniel played in 225 consecutive games in National League without committing an error—a record.
He considers his top overall year as 1960 with the St. Louis Cardinals when he logged a 12-2 mark in relief with 22 saves and an E.R.A. of 1.29 while being named to the National League All-Star team and earned Fireman-of-the Year honors. He ranks his next best year as 1970 with the Yankees when he was 9-5 with a career high 29 saves and 2.01 ERA followed by the 1963 season when he was 13-7 with 21 saves and a 2.88 ERA.
McDaniel won Fireman-of-the Year honors in 1960 and 1963. He also led the National League in relief pitching in 1959, but that was the year before the first Fireman-of-the-year award was presented. With nine saves and a 0.74 ERA, McDaniel was named the Player of the Month
Player of the Month
The Player of the Month Award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league every month of the regular season. The National League started recognizing the award on June 4, 1958. National League president Warren Giles conducted a poll of baseball writers in each Major League city and...
for June 1960.
Stand-Out Game
In 21 years the Hollis, OklahomaHollis, Oklahoma
-Additional information:Hollis is a close-knit community which only has one stoplight at the corner of Highway 62 and Highway 30, the only two main highways that pass through the town. It features the Hollis Municipal Airport located north of the town on Highway 30 and the Hollis Livestock...
native had many outstanding single-game performances, but in a 1963 outing against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
stands out the most in his mind. It came June 6 when he was pitching for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
"I'll always remember it. The Giants came to Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
in first place and were leading the Cubs by four games at the time. We swept the first three games and the fans were going wild. A win in the final contest would put us in a tie for first place. We had another capacity crowd, and the score was tied in the top of the tenth inning. I came in to relieve Dick Ellsworth
Dick Ellsworth
Richard Clark Ellsworth is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers . Ellsworth batted and threw left-handed. He is the father of Steve Ellsworth...
, our starting pitcher, with the bases loaded and one out. The first thing I did, with the help of the catcher and shortstop, was to pick Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
off second base, and then I struck out Ed Bailey
Ed Bailey
Lonas Edgar Bailey, Jr. was an American professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from through . Bailey batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee...
to get us out of the jam. I received a standing ovation
Standing ovation
A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim...
when I walked to the dugout. I was the first batter up in the bottom of the tenth and hit a home run to win the game. As I rounded the bases, I was received by the entire ballclub at home plate and was given a very prolonged standing ovation from the fans. You know about those Cub fans!"
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- The Sporting News Reliever of the Year AwardThe Sporting News Reliever of the Year AwardThe Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award was established in 1960 by The Sporting News as TSN Fireman of the Year Award. The award originally recognized the best closer from each league, but in 2001 the award was broadened to include all relievers...
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions
- List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders