View source for Sam McDowell

{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1942)}}
{{for|the soldier and judge|Samuel McDowell}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Sam McDowell
|image=Sam McDowell Indians.jpg
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1942|9|21}}
|birth_place=[[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 15
|debutyear=1961
|debutteam=Cleveland Indians
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=June 24
|finalyear=1975
|finalteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=141–134
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.17
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=2,453
|teams=
* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{mlby|1961}}–{{mlby|1971}})
* [[San Francisco Giants]] ({{mlby|1972}}–{{mlby|1973}})
* [[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|1973}}–{{mlby|1974}})
* [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ({{mlby|1975}})
|highlights=
* 6× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1965]], [[1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1966]], [[1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1968]]–[[1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1971]])
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders|AL ERA leader]] (1965)
* 5× [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|AL strikeout leader]] (1965, 1966, 1968–1970)
* [[Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame]]
}}
'''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 [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]], McDowell led the [[American League]] in [[strikeout]]s five times. Tall (6 feet, 5&nbsp;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 ==
McDowell was born in [[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] on September 21, 1942, one of six siblings. His father Thomas was a heat inspector for U.S. Steel.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Wancho |first=Joseph |title=Sam McDowell, Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/sam-mcdowell/ |website=SABR.org}}</ref> He attended Pittsburgh [[Central Catholic High School (Pittsburgh)|Central Catholic High School]], where he played baseball, basketball, football and track, graduating in 1960.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Biertempfel |first=Rob |date=June 17, 2020 |title=How alcoholism and recovery shaped Pirates 'first' free agent Sam McDowell |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1855871/2020/06/17/how-alcoholism-and-recovery-shaped-pirates-first-free-agent-sam-mcdowell/ |work=New York Times}}</ref> He had an 8–1 [[Winning percentage|won–loss]] pitching record his senior year (though it has also been stated he was 8–0<ref name=":0" />), with 152 strikeouts in 63 innings and no [[Earned run|earned runs]]. McDowell had a total of 9 [[No-hitter|no-hitters]] in high school.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> He pitched in the Colt World Series in 1960, throwing two no-hitters and a one-hitter.<ref name=":0" /> In 1960, he was considered the top baseball prospect in the country,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Askeland |first=Kevin |date=2022-05-26 |title=High school baseball: Did Sam McDowell really throw 40 career no-hitters? |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/news/NcBpSxYOtEml4fHLLxPCIQ/high-school-baseball-did-sam-mcdowell-really-throw-40-career-no-hitters.htm |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=MaxPreps.com |language=en}}</ref> and had signing bonus offers from all 16 major league teams.<ref name=":2" />

== With the Indians ==

=== 1960–61: Major league debut ===
During the 1960 season, as a high school graduate, McDowell signed with the Indians for a $75,000 bonus.<ref name=sabrbio>[http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=2636&pid=9210 Sam McDowell at The Baseball Biography Project]</ref> 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.<ref name=TTTT>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNaosCnOhHI To Tell The Truth episode]</ref>  

He spent the 1960 season with the [[Minor League Baseball|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 [[Base on balls|bases on balls]]. He [[Pickoff|picked off]] 43 base runners, modeling his technique on Hall of fame left-handed pitcher [[Warren Spahn]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spahn, Warren {{!}} Baseball Hall of Fame |url=https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/spahn-warren |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=baseballhall.org}}</ref> who had given McDowell pickoff tips when he was in Pittsburgh.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1960 Lakeland Indians Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=96e19ac4 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Norman |date=March 30, 1961 |title=Young Lefty Looks Sharp |work=News Journal (Mansfield, Ohio) |pages=30}}</ref>  

In 1961, McDowell was promoted to the [[Triple-A (baseball)|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.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Sam McDowell Minor Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mcdowe001sam |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He had 156 strikeouts and 152 bases on balls in 175 innings pitched; averaging 8 [[Strikeouts per nine innings pitched|strikeouts per nine innings]], but also 7.8 [[Bases on balls per nine innings pitched|bases on balls per nine innings]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1961 Salt Lake City Bees Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=43f39a2b |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dolgan |first=Bob |date=January 10, 1962 |title=McDowell Airs Views on Winning Job With Indians |work=The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) |pages=13}}</ref> However, in a harbinger of things to come, he struck out five batters and also walked five batters before being relieved by [[Frank Funk (baseball)|Frank Funk]]. Funk gave up three runs in the 9th inning to lose the game, 3-2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Twins vs Cleveland Indians Box Score: September 15, 1961 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE196109150.shtml |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> McDowell did not pitch again in 1961, after the one appearance for Cleveland.<ref name=":3" />

=== 1962–63: Struggle to establish himself ===
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Indians vs New York Yankees Box Score: April 22, 1962 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA196204222.shtml |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> 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 pitched|innings]].{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} After posting a 2.02 ERA in 6 games,<ref>{{Cite web |title=1962 Salt Lake City Bees Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=dd84425a |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> he was recalled in July.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 21, 1962 |title=Buffalo's Jake Kubiszyn Called Up by Cleveland |work=The Buffalo News |pages=5}}</ref> The results were similar, as he finished with an ERA of 6.06 and 70 walks (a rate of 7.2 [[Bases on balls per 9 innings pitched|BB/9]]), but also 70 strikeouts in 87.2 innings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1962 Cleveland Indians Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1962.shtml |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

McDowell's 1963 season represented something of an improvement over 1962. He started out well, pitching his first major league [[complete game]] on April 16 against the [[Washington Senators (1961–71)|Washington Senators]]. McDowell gave up just two hits while striking out 13, but his control continued to be an issue as he also walked seven hitters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Washington Senators vs Cleveland Indians Box Score: April 16, 1963 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE196304160.shtml |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Although he improved his ERA to 4.85 and his BB/9 to 6.1 while increasing his K/9 to 8.7,<ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 Cleveland Indians Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1963.shtml |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> McDowell was sent down to the Indians top farm club (now the [[Jacksonville Suns]]) at the end of June and spent the rest of the season there.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 Jacksonville Suns Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=efb994e8 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He also threw seven [[wild pitch]]es, ninth-most in the league, despite only pitching 65 innings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 American League Pitching Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1963-pitching-leaders.shtml |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== 1964: Breakout season ===
In 1964, the Indians again switched farm teams, this time assigning McDowell to the [[Portland Beavers]]. McDowell started out the season on fire, winning all eight of his decisions in only nine starts, including a no-hitter, with an impressive ERA of 1.18. Perhaps more impressively for Sam, he struck out 102 batters while walking just 24 in 76 innings. Once again, he was called up to the majors. It would be the last time McDowell would spend in the minor leagues.

After winning a game in relief on May 31, McDowell pitched a complete game on June 2 against the [[Chicago White Sox]], beating the White Sox 3-2. In a sign that his control might be coming around, he walked just three in the game while striking out 14.

He continued to show flashes of brilliance during the season, finishing with a record of 11-6 with an ERA of 2.70, seventh-best in the [[American League]]. He also led the league in K/9 with 9.2, striking out 177 in 173.1 innings. His strikeout total was good for eighth in the AL. His BB/9 also continued to improve, dropping to 5.2, although he still walked an even 100 hitters, the fourth-highest total in the league.

=== 1965: All-Star ===
In 1965, McDowell was selected to the All-Star team, the first of six such selections over his career. He pitched two innings in the [[1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1965 All-Star Game]] and wound up taking the loss for the AL.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS196507130.shtml 1965 All-Star Game box score]</ref> At the end of the year, "Sudden Sam" was at the top of several American League leader lists, including ERA (2.18), strikeouts (325), K/9 (10.7), [[Hits per nine innings]] (5.9) and [[home runs per nine innings]] (0.3). The strikeout total stands as the second-highest in franchise history to [[Bob Feller]]'s 348 in 1946.<ref name=clepitch>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/leaders_pitch.shtml Cleveland Indians Top 10 Pitching Leaders]</ref> His 273 innings pitched were second only to the Yankees' [[Mel Stottlemyre]]. He also finished 17th in the voting for Most Valuable Player. His control was perhaps the only flaw on his excellent season, as he also led the league in most walks allowed with 132, even though his BB/9 rate continued to drop, to 4.4.

The Indians were also improving, as they finished the season with their first winning record since 1959, with McDowell leading the way. Together with [[Sonny Siebert]], Sam was the first [[American League]] starting pitcher duo to post K/9 rates over 9.{{citation needed|date=July 2011}} The Indians pitching staff as a whole led the AL with 1156 strikeouts, leading the league for the first of what would be five straight seasons.

=== 1966–67: Bumps in the road ===
McDowell slumped somewhat in 1966. Although he started hot, he missed several games due to arm problems during the year.<ref name=sabrbio/> While he led the league in strikeouts for the second straight season, his total dropped to 225, as he managed just 194.1 innings. He posted a 2.87 ERA but won only nine games against eight losses. Of those nine wins, five were shutouts, a total that also led the league. He also made his second All-Star team, although he did not appear in the game.

In 1967, although he didn't miss any time, McDowell's numbers continued to decline. He won 13 games while losing 15, and he led the league in walks allowed, earned runs allowed, and wild pitches while posting a below-average 3.85 ERA. He also failed to lead the league in K/9 for the first time since becoming a full-time major leaguer, finishing second to teammate [[Luis Tiant]] with a 9.0 rate. The team as a whole set a record by striking out 1189 batters.<ref>{{cite web|last=Starr|first=Cindy|url=https://www.uchealth.com/articles/back-in-the-game-tom-tomsick-md-produces-a-baseball-memoir/|title=Back in the Game: Tom Tomsick, MD, Produces a Baseball Memoir|work=UC Health Media Room|date=July 9, 2010|access-date=May 19, 2020}}</ref> One of his few personal highlights came not as a pitcher, but as a batter, as he hit his first major league [[home run]] on May 21 off [[Boston Red Sox]] pitcher [[Bucky Brandon]].<ref name=sabrbio/>

=== 1968–69: Returning to form ===
In 1968, the last season before the lowering of the pitcher's mound to 10 inches above ground, Major League Baseball went through what is often called the "Year of the Pitcher". Fittingly, it was also the year McDowell began to return to his pre-1966 form. He posted a career-best 1.81 ERA, second to Luis Tiant, who posted a 1.60 mark. He also returned to his place atop the leader boards in strikeouts (283) and K/9 (9.5). While he led the league in walks allowed with 110, he posted his best BB/9 rate to date with a 3.7. McDowell's own record was 15-14.

In 1969, McDowell won 18 games, his best total thus far, while losing 14. He continued to lead the league in strikeouts (279) and K/9 (8.8). Although it was the first season McDowell had posted a strikeout rate of less than 9, he also posted a career-low BB/9 at 3.2, and for the first time did ''not'' lead the league in total walks allowed without missing time due to injuries or time in the minors, finishing sixth with 102. His 18 complete games were the third-most in the AL, and his four shutouts were fourth-most. He also was selected to the All-Star Game for the fourth time, striking out four batters in two innings, including [[Roberto Clemente]].<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS196907230.shtml 1969 All-Star Game box score]</ref> On June 27, he notched his 1,500th career strikeout.<ref name=sabrbio/>

=== 1970: Pitcher of the Year ===
For the only time in his career, McDowell reached the 20-win mark, posting a record of 20-12. He also led the American League in innings pitched, topping the 300 mark (also for the only time) at 305. He reached the 300-strikeout mark as well for the first time since 1965 at 304, just barely missing out on a K/9 rate of 9.0, although he led the league in both those categories again. He also threw a career-high 19 complete games, second in the league to [[Mike Cuellar]], giving him 37 complete games in the last two seasons. All this, combined with a fifth-best 2.92 ERA, led to his selection as "[[Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award|AL Pitcher of the Year]]" by ''[[The Sporting News]]''.

However, he led the league in walks allowed with 131, and in wild pitches with 17, the first time he had done so since 1967. He also gave up a career-high 25 home runs. During a July 6 game against the Senators, McDowell became the last left-handed player to earn a fielding chance at second base.

=== 1971: End of the line in Cleveland ===
1971 started on a rocky note for the newly minted Pitcher of the Year. He held out during [[spring training]], hoping for a six-figure contract.<ref name=sabrbio/> The contract he did sign was voided by Commissioner [[Bowie Kuhn]] because it contained illegal incentive clauses, and McDowell decided to leave the team again.<ref name=sabrbio/> He eventually returned to the team, only to be suspended again later in the season.<ref name=sabrbio/>

Among all the turmoil, McDowell's performance suffered. His record slipped to 13-17, and his ERA jumped to 3.40. His K/9 was just 8.0, lowest since 1962, although it was still second in the league. However, his control problems returned full-force, as he walked a career-high 153 batters in just 214.2 innings for a BB/9 of 6.4, also his worst since 1962. At the end of the season, McDowell demanded a trade, and Indians [[general manager (baseball)|general manager]] [[Gabe Paul]] obliged.<ref name=sabrbio/> On November 29, he was traded to the [[San Francisco Giants]] for pitcher [[Gaylord Perry]] and [[shortstop]] [[Frank Duffy (baseball)|Frank Duffy]].

== Later career ==

=== San Francisco Giants ===
The trade turned out to be a disaster for the Giants. In 1972, McDowell had his worst season as a starting pitcher, posting his highest [[earned run average]] since 1963 at 4.33 while posting a 10-8 record. Although his control settled down a bit, as he posted a 4.7 BB/9 in 164.1 innings, he pitched just four complete games and failed to post a shutout for the first time since 1962, while his K/9 fell to 6.7, his worst to date. Meanwhile, Perry posted 24 wins with a 1.92 earned run average for Cleveland, winning his first [[Cy Young Award]].

McDowell was sent to the bullpen to start the 1973 season. He had contemplated retirement during the offseason due to persistent back and neck pains, but he felt better after treatment and returned to the team.<ref name=sabrbio/> He started just three games for the Giants in the first two months, appearing 15 times in [[relief pitcher|relief]]. He had a 1-2 record for the Giants with three [[save (baseball)|save]]s and a 4.50 ERA. On June 7 McDowell was sold by the Giants to the Yankees in a straight cash deal.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YZ9RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LG0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1861,1201564&dq=yankees+purchase+sam+mcdowell&hl=en Yanks buy McDowell]</ref>

=== New York Yankees ===
McDowell was moved back into the starting rotation for the Yankees, and his numbers improved somewhat. He started off hot, winning five of his first six starts, but failed to win another game after that. With the Yankees in 1973, he went 5-8 with a 3.95 ERA.

In 1974, McDowell was again hampered by injuries. A slipped disc cost him two months of the season,<ref name=sabrbio/> and even when he was available to pitch, he was used sparingly, appearing in only 13 games, seven of them starts. His results on the field continued to decline, as he posted career-worsts in K/9 (6.2) and BB/9 (7.7), winning just one game while losing six with a 4.69 ERA. On September 13, he left the team, and after the season asked for and was granted his release.<ref name=sabrbio/>

=== Pittsburgh Pirates ===
McDowell did not sign a contract until almost Opening Day in 1975, finally catching on with the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 2 after having to fight for a job during spring training.<ref name=sabrbio/> He returned to the bullpen, and his numbers began to improve. In 14 games for the Pirates, he posted a 2.86 ERA, while his K/9 (7.5) and BB/9 (5.2) both improved over the past two seasons. However, it wasn't enough, as the Pirates released him on June 26.

== Post-retirement ==
[[File:Sam McDowell (52650016113) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|McDowell in 2023]]
Following his "retirement", McDowell's drinking increased to the point where it cost him his marriage. His wife left him, taking their two children with her, leaving him desolate and broke.<ref name=stpete>[http://www.sptimes.com/2003/03/14/Floridian/Making_his_pitch.shtml Making His Pitch, ''St. Petersburg Times'', March 14, 2003]</ref> A failed business venture had left McDowell $190,000 in debt, and by early 1980 was living with his parents at his childhood home in Pittsburgh while selling insurance.<ref name=stpete/> Eventually, McDowell checked himself into Gateway Rehab, a rehabilitation facility located outside of Pittsburgh.<ref name=trib>[http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_770725.html 'Sudden Sam' emerged from alcoholism a winner], ''[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]'', December 7, 2011{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

After repaying his debts, he enrolled at the [[University of Pittsburgh]], where he earned associate degrees in sports psychology and addiction. Eventually, McDowell returned to the major leagues as a sports addiction counselor with the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]].<ref name=stpete/> McDowell earned a [[World Series ring]] while working with the 1993 Blue Jays. McDowell also works as a consultant with the [[Baseball Assistance Team]] (BAT) and the [[Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association]] (MLBPAA).<ref name=stpete/> In 2001, McDowell remarried, and started a retirement community for former players. He became chairman and CEO at The City of Legends, a retirement resort in Clermont, Florida.<ref name=stpete/> McDowell married a second time after meeting Eva, a Slovak tourist, when asking for directions in Florida.<ref name=trib/>

The character of [[Sam Malone]], the alcoholic ex-Red Sox pitcher portrayed by Emmy Award winning actor [[Ted Danson]] in the television program ''[[Cheers]]'', was based on the baseball life of McDowell.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sports.ca.msn.com/other/photos/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=27200992&page=6 |title=Drunk with Success: Sam McDowell from MSN Sports Canada |access-date=2011-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115070241/http://sports.ca.msn.com/other/photos/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=27200992&page=6 |archive-date=2011-01-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a 2011 interview with the [[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]], McDowell joked "I would say I'm better with women than [Sam Malone] was."<ref name=trib/>

== Career summary ==
McDowell finished with 2,453 career strikeouts and an average of 8.86 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, ranking him ninth all-time as of 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SOp9_career.shtml|title=Career Leaders & Records for Strikeouts/9IP|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2011-07-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221095518/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SOp9_career.shtml|archive-date=2009-02-21}}</ref> At the time of his retirement, his strikeout rate was bested by only two pitchers: [[Nolan Ryan]] and [[Sandy Koufax]]. His ratio of 7.03 hits allowed per nine innings also places him ninth all-time as of 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/hits_per_nine_career_career.shtml|title=Career Leaders & Records for Hits per 9 IP|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=2011-07-06}}</ref> He ranks eighth all time on the list of career ten or more strikeout games with 74, tied with [[Bob Gibson]].<ref>[http://captnsblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/half-marathon-men-10-strikeout-game-leaders-by-franchise/ (Half) Marathon Men: 10-Strikeout Game Leaders by Franchise]</ref> His 2,159 strikeouts as an Indian place him second all time on the team's career list, behind [[Bob Feller]].<ref name=clepitch/> In four All-Star appearances, McDowell struck out twelve NL All-Stars over eight innings, and was the losing pitcher (in relief) in the 1965 game. Despite his success at pitching, [[Alvin Dark]] observed that he was "one of the worst fielding pitchers in baseball."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dark|first1=Alvin|last2=Underwood|first2=John|title=When in Doubt, Fire the Manager: My Life and Times in Baseball|publisher=E. P. Dutton|location=New York|year=1980|isbn=0-525-23264-8|page=23}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Baseball}}
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]
* [[Major League Baseball titles leaders]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |title=Strike Three! : My Years in the 'pen |last=Tomsick |first=T. A. |publisher=Jarndyce & Jarndyce Press |location=Cincinnati |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-9817269-6-0 }}
== External links ==

* [https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/sam-mcdowell/ Sam McDowell] at the [[Society for American Baseball Research#Projects and collections|SABR Baseball Biography Project]]
{{Baseballstats|br=m/mcdowsa01|brm=mcdowe001sam}}
*[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=mcdowsa01 Baseball Historical Almanac]

{{AL ERA champions}}
{{AL strikeout champions}}
{{300 strikeout club}}
{{Sporting News AL Pitcher of the Year Award}}
{{Cleveland Indians Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McDowell, Sam}}
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Cleveland Indians players]]
[[Category:New York Yankees players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players]]
[[Category:San Francisco Giants players]]
[[Category:American League ERA champions]]
[[Category:American League strikeout champions]]
[[Category:American League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Lakeland Indians players]]
[[Category:Salt Lake City Bees players]]
[[Category:Jacksonville Suns players]]
[[Category:Portland Beavers players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Central Catholic High School (Pittsburgh) alumni]]
[[Category:University of Pittsburgh alumni]]