Denny McLain
“At the Organ: The Detroit Tigers Superstar Swings with Today’s Hits”
Capitol records
submitted by: Gary H.
What I like about this record is that the guy actually plays on it, unlike many other “sports” records that have the star on the cover but other people’s music within.
McClain’s baseball career was short but eventful. Although he won the Cy Young Award, was named the AL Most Valuable Player, and pitched in the World Series, all in 1968, he suffered from a series of injuries and scandals. From wikipedia:
“Sports Illustrated reported that a foot injury suffered by McLain late in 1967 had been caused by an organized crime figure stomping on it for McLain’s failure to pay off on a bet. McLain missed six starts because of this injury, coming back to pitch and lose the Tigers’ final game of the season against the California Angels, which cost his team the 1967 pennant. McLain’s story of what caused the injury kept changing: on various occasions, he claimed that he had kicked his locker after a particularly disappointing start; fallen asleep watching television, then wrenched his toes against some furniture when he woke up in the dark; kicked some garbage cans being ‘terrorized’ by squirrels; and fallen into a manhole while being chased by a pack of wild dogs.” It goes on from there…
I took these pics of records from someone’s great collection at the MSP Music Expo in Minneapolis. I’m just now posting them! Of course I forgot the guy’s name who they belonged to, so if you see this send me an email so I can give you credit!
Denny McLain
