A look back at the '68 WS - Denny McLain and a cool game pickup
Stone193
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It's the fall '68 classic - my first to watch in a few years - Vietnam got in the way - so I was excited to watch!
It turned into one of the more exciting with Detroit going against the odds - being down 3 games to 1 to take it all!
I thought it would be interesting to look back at the career of Denny Mclain after my latest pickup.
Denny McLain Magnetik Baseball Game - Gotham Pressed Steel Corp. - 1969
As we all know - Denny is the last person (perhaps for ever?) to win 30 or more games in a single season - 31 and 6.
There's no doubt his 31 wins helped to launch Detroit into the WS - however - it was a less than auspicious event for him. He lost the opener - tho he did win one game. Interestingly, it was Mickey Lolich who won the other 3 games and stole the show.
And last - in my brief lookback - McLain's career stats were not bad IMO - with 131 wins against 91 losses. It was his fall from grace - incarceration - and nefarious affiliations that everyone may remember. I'll leave the details for posterity - I always feel bad when this happens to our baseball players.
Now to the game:
The game is in pretty good shape - probably missing some parts - don't have instruction sheet or parts list - it appears cumbersome with respect to the play "mechanism" and hard - as an adult - to have an appreciation for playing.
Moreover - I was surprised to realize that there's an "electric" version of the game along with the magnetic.
Here's parts that go with the electric version - that enhance the appearance while playing - not sure if the "magnetik" version also comes with such accouterments:
(there's also a "Tom Seaver" version of this 'mail-in' game from the company)
As - I believe - the only 'game' collector here (?) - I enjoy trying to keep all the "card" guys informed about what's out there and share. As I learn more about the 2 games - I'll be sure to share and update.
It turned into one of the more exciting with Detroit going against the odds - being down 3 games to 1 to take it all!
I thought it would be interesting to look back at the career of Denny Mclain after my latest pickup.
Denny McLain Magnetik Baseball Game - Gotham Pressed Steel Corp. - 1969
As we all know - Denny is the last person (perhaps for ever?) to win 30 or more games in a single season - 31 and 6.
There's no doubt his 31 wins helped to launch Detroit into the WS - however - it was a less than auspicious event for him. He lost the opener - tho he did win one game. Interestingly, it was Mickey Lolich who won the other 3 games and stole the show.
And last - in my brief lookback - McLain's career stats were not bad IMO - with 131 wins against 91 losses. It was his fall from grace - incarceration - and nefarious affiliations that everyone may remember. I'll leave the details for posterity - I always feel bad when this happens to our baseball players.
Now to the game:
The game is in pretty good shape - probably missing some parts - don't have instruction sheet or parts list - it appears cumbersome with respect to the play "mechanism" and hard - as an adult - to have an appreciation for playing.
Moreover - I was surprised to realize that there's an "electric" version of the game along with the magnetic.
Here's parts that go with the electric version - that enhance the appearance while playing - not sure if the "magnetik" version also comes with such accouterments:
(there's also a "Tom Seaver" version of this 'mail-in' game from the company)
As - I believe - the only 'game' collector here (?) - I enjoy trying to keep all the "card" guys informed about what's out there and share. As I learn more about the 2 games - I'll be sure to share and update.
Mike
0
Comments
i recall watching the '68 Series on TV with my Dad, and i was finally old enough to get really excited about baseball games as something to remember, with all those great players on both Detroit and St. Louis.
but McLain stood out as someone who accomplished what at the time was pretty miraculous, and now seems virtually unattainable.
can we be relatively certain that he was using no supplements then?
He was one of the first players I remember my Dad telling me about in the 70's when I first showed an interest in the game.
Its a shame the mess he made of his life. 31 wins in a season may never happen again. At least he has that.
Robert
Remember Lolich winning 3 games and Gibson
Striking out 18 Tigers. That was some series.
The light hiiting SS Oyler, was replaced by an outfielder
named Mickey Stanley.
BTW, are you going to look for the version with Tom Terrific? That would be the one I'd get.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
<< <i>Yes, such a shame about McLain. Another great find!!!
BTW, are you going to look for the version with Tom Terrific? That would be the one I'd get.
Thanx guys!
Hi Mike
The version I saw - is the "mail-in" version - so the box is plain cardboard - no interest since I already have two examples of the playing board.
But - if I see a "store" version? Of course!
Thanx