DENNY MCLAIN
Game 166 | December 12, 1968 | Denny McLain, Billy Martin
In winning both the Cy Young Award and the American League MVP Award in 1968, McLain had one of the most impressive seasons in modern baseball history. He finished with a record of 31-6 and became the first major league pitcher since Dizzy Dean to win 30 or more games in a season. He won the Cy Young Award again in 1969, but a combination of arm trouble and allegations of bookmaking and associating with gamblers and other underground characters shortened his 10-year major league career. With Cal Ermer fired, Martin was given his first major league managing job, and he made the most of it. The Twins, reflecting Martin's fiery personality, won the American League West and lost to Baltimore in the champion-ship series. Despite his success on the field, Martin proved to be a headache for owner Calvin Griffith, who fired Martin at the end of the season.
