Sept. 10, 1963 - Rookie southpaw Mickey Lolich (pictured), with relief help from Fred Gladding, pitched the Detroit Tigers to a split of a doubleheader with the Washington Senators today. The Tigers took the second game, 4-1, after the Senators won the opener, 9-8. Lolich, 22 years old, gave 10 hits and walked 5 before Gladding came in to get the final out in the ninth. Lolich was born right-handed. At age two, he rode his tricycle into a parked motorcycle, which fell on him. The accident broke his left collarbone, requiring him to wear a cast for four months. Post-injury efforts to strengthen the left arm helped Lolich develop into throwing left-handed. He made his major league debut on May 12 and secured his first win on May 28, allowing one run in nine innings against the Los Angeles Angels. Gladding’s final pitch of the second game resulted in a sharp line drive by Jim King which Detroit’s George Smith speared at second base, just like the seventh game of last year’s World Series. The only thing missing was the drama, the people, and the money. Otherwise it was just the same. The crowd at D.C. Stadium for tonight’s nightcap was 3,061. At the rate they are going, that might also be the next time the Senators win the American League pennant.
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