The last time Washington baseball fans saw a trade comparable to the acquisition of Oakland A’s pitcher Gio Gonzalez was October 9, 1970 when the Senators traded for Detroit Tigers Cy Young Award winner Denny McLain.
McLain was traded to the Senators along with Elliot Maddox, Norm McRae and Don Wert for Ed Brinkman, Joe Coleman, Jim Hannan and Aurelio Rodriguez. McLain was two years removed from winning the American League Cy Young in 1968 while becoming the last pitcher to win 30 games. He finished 31-6 that season with a 1.98 earned run average. This performance helped the Tigers win the world’s championship.
Denny McLain went on to post a 24-9 record in 1969. There seemed to be no way that the Tigers would ever trade him. Then the wheels fell of in 1970.
After a February 1970 Sports Illustrated article came out accusing McLain of associating with a gambling ring baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn began an investigation which led to the star pitcher being suspended. While on suspension McLain filed for bankruptcy claiming ‘bad business decisions.’ His petition listed debts of $446,069 and assets of $413.
On July 1 in front of a packed house at Tiger Stadium Denny McLain returned to the mound. He struggled that night and never regained the form he had shown in 1968 and ’69. On August 28 he doused two sports writers with a bucket of ice and earned a week long suspension from the team. Before the suspension ended Kuhn found out that McLain had carried a gun on a team flight and suspended him for the rest of the season.
McLain finished the year with a record of 3-5, a 4.63 ERA and having burned all of his bridges in Detroit.
A few days after the season, Denny McLain was traded to the Senators. Though only 26, the same age as Gonzalez, the Tigers knew that McLain was damaged goods and were happy to get anything for him. As for Washington fans, the trade was met with mixed emotions. Most felt that the team was only making the move in preparation for their impending move to Texas. Many wondered how he would get along with the Senators strong willed manager Ted Williams.
McLain signed a contract for $90,000 then proceeded to lead the American League in losses with 22. He won 10 and posted an ERA of 4.28. In less than two seasons Denny McLain went from being one of baseball’s best pitchers to one of its worst. He openly feuded with Williams during the entire season. In a year which Washington fans would see major league baseball for the last time until 2005, watching McLain pitch was painful.
Four decades later, the Washington Nationals have traded for another 26 year old star pitcher in Gio Gonzalez. Unlike in 1970, the team is not planning to move and Gonzalez does not come with any baggage.
Washington fans can only hope that he gives them more than Denny McLain gave the Senators.