Lynn McGlothen--1976
I have several Lynn McGlothen
cards, but this is the one I like the
best. He shows a great toothy smile
and looks so full of life and very
happy relaxing around the batting
cage.
The hard-throwing right-hander
reeled off seasons of 16, 15, and 13
wins for the Cardinals beginning in
1974 before arm woes sidetracked
his career. Highlights included
McGlothen as an NL All-Star in 1974
(1 IP, 0H, 0R, 1 K) and he tied a
Major League record when he struck
out the side on nine pitches (Aug. 19,
1975 vs. Cincinnati).
The unfortunate thing is, what I
remember most about Lynn
McGlothen was his death. With his
career over, McGlothen died
tragically in a mobile home fire in
1984. He was just 34. One can only
wonder what the final moments of his
life were like… just awful.
I was 23 at the time and didn’t
understand it all. It seemed like just
the other day I had watched him on
WGN-TV pitching for my Cubbies---
and now, he was gone. But what I
couldn’t comprehend most is why a
former major league pitcher was was
living in a mobile home. Had his life
regressed so much that he couldn’t
afford a house? Was he into drugs or
unsavory actions? How did he lose all
the monies from his major league
career?
Yet, I never did search out the
answers to these questions. All I
knew was that Lynn McGlothen was
gone and my life moved on.
Placed on the ultimate stage, we not
only feel that our Cardboard Gods
are invincible; but also that they lead
the life that we would cherish. And
while I would like to have been a
major league player, I know, I would
not like to die in a mobile home fire...
just awful.
cards, but this is the one I like the
best. He shows a great toothy smile
and looks so full of life and very
happy relaxing around the batting
cage.
The hard-throwing right-hander
reeled off seasons of 16, 15, and 13
wins for the Cardinals beginning in
1974 before arm woes sidetracked
his career. Highlights included
McGlothen as an NL All-Star in 1974
(1 IP, 0H, 0R, 1 K) and he tied a
Major League record when he struck
out the side on nine pitches (Aug. 19,
1975 vs. Cincinnati).
The unfortunate thing is, what I
remember most about Lynn
McGlothen was his death. With his
career over, McGlothen died
tragically in a mobile home fire in
1984. He was just 34. One can only
wonder what the final moments of his
life were like… just awful.
I was 23 at the time and didn’t
understand it all. It seemed like just
the other day I had watched him on
WGN-TV pitching for my Cubbies---
and now, he was gone. But what I
couldn’t comprehend most is why a
former major league pitcher was was
living in a mobile home. Had his life
regressed so much that he couldn’t
afford a house? Was he into drugs or
unsavory actions? How did he lose all
the monies from his major league
career?
Yet, I never did search out the
answers to these questions. All I
knew was that Lynn McGlothen was
gone and my life moved on.
Placed on the ultimate stage, we not
only feel that our Cardboard Gods
are invincible; but also that they lead
the life that we would cherish. And
while I would like to have been a
major league player, I know, I would
not like to die in a mobile home fire...
just awful.
