Samuel Edward Thomas McDowell (born September 21, 1942) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a starting pitcher from 1961 to 1975, most notably for the Cleveland Indians. A six-time All-Star, McDowell led the American League in strikeouts five times. Tall (6 feet, 5 inches) and powerful, his left-handed fastball was delivered with an unusually calm pitching motion which led to his memorable nickname, "Sudden Sam".
Early life[edit]
McDowell was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 21, 1942, one of six siblings. His father Thomas was a heat inspector for U.S. Steel.[1] He attended Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, where he played baseball, basketball, football and track, graduating in 1960.[1][2] He had an 8–1 won–loss pitching record his senior year (though it has also been stated he was 8–0[1]), with 152 strikeouts in 63 innings and no earned runs. McDowell had a total of 9 no-hitters in high school.[3][1] He pitched in the Colt World Series in 1960, throwing two no-hitters and a one-hitter.[1] In 1960, he was considered the top baseball prospect in the country,[3] and had signing bonus offers from all 16 major league teams.[4]
With the Indians[edit]
1960–61: Major league debut[edit]
During the 1960 season, as a high school graduate, McDowell signed with the Indians for a $75,000 bonus.[5] McDowell made the signing announcement at the conclusion of his appearance in the third segment of To Tell the Truth aired on June 16, 1960.[6]
He spent the 1960 season with the Class-D Lakeland Indians, where he had a 5–6 record, with a 3.35 earned run average (ERA). He struck out 100 batters in 104.2 innings pitched, but also had 80 bases on balls. He picked off 43 base runners, modeling his technique on Hall of fame left-handed pitcher Warren Spahn,[7] who had given McDowell pickoff tips when he was in Pittsburgh.[8][4]
In 1961, McDowell was promoted to the Triple-A Salt Lake City Bees of the Pacific Coast League. He finished the year there with a record of 13–10 and a 4.42 ERA.[9] He had 156 strikeouts and 152 bases on balls in 175 innings pitched; averaging 8 strikeouts per nine innings, but also 7.8 bases on balls per nine innings.[10]
This was enough to earn him a promotion to the majors in September, and one week before his 19th birthday he made his MLB debut for the Indians. Starting against the Minnesota Twins, McDowell pitched 6.1 scoreless innings, giving up just three hits. He had to leave the game because he broke two ribs throwing a pitch.[11] However, in a harbinger of things to come, he struck out five batters and also walked five batters before being relieved by Frank Funk. Funk gave up three runs in the 9th inning to lose the game, 3-2.[12] McDowell did not pitch again in 1961, after the one appearance for Cleveland.[9]
1962–63: Struggle to establish himself[edit]
McDowell started the next season in Salt Lake City, but was quickly called up in mid-April for a start against the New York Yankees. His second start was not as good as his first: although the Indians won 9-3, McDowell did not make it out of the fifth inning, once again walking five batters and failing to qualify for a win.[13] McDowell remained with the Indians as a swingman until the end of May, when he was sent back to the minors with a 6.04 ERA and 24 walks in 25.1 innings.[citation needed] After posting a 2.02 ERA in 6 games,[14] he was recalled in July.[15] The results were similar, as he finished with an ERA of 6.06 and 70 walks (a rate of 7.2 BB/9), but also 70 strikeouts in 87.2 innings.[16]
McDowell's 1963 season represented something of an improvement over 1962. He ...
