Majors' last 30-game winner makes appearance in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - The last 30-win pitcher in the major leagues was in town Sunday afternoon. The specialization and innings counting in today's game means Denny McLain might really be the last 30-win pitcher.

“You can never say never,” McLain said during an appearance at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Cedar Rapids Kernels beat Peoria, 3-0.

McLain, 68, went 31-6 in 1968 for the Detroit Tigers and won 24 games the next season to snatch a second straight American League Cy Young Award.

“My suggestion to baseball is to raise the mound,” McLain said. “Take the mound back where it belongs, another four or five inches (higher). If you give them another four or five inches, you create better leverage. Then, of course, that takes some pressure off your arm. The flatter it is, the tougher it is. If you raise the mound, you create more leverage, and (30 wins) could happen.

“But you and I both know that once they make up their mind about something, they're done. It's in cement. So there's no way they'll raise the mound, there's no way someone is going to win 25 games. It's a different game today.”

McLain was beset by arm injuries and personal issues following his historic season and was out of the game by 1974. He was suspended for gambling at one point during his playing days and served two separate stints in prison: one for embezzelment, the other for racketeering, extortion and drug dealing.

A Detroit-area resident, he sold autographed photos and baseballs Sunday, as well as copies of his 2007 book “I Told You I'm Not Perfect.” It's part of a 45-game tour he is taking around the minor leagues, including a stop last week in Clinton, where he played in the early 1960s.

He said he remembered playing in Cedar Rapids at the old Memorial Stadium.

“I've got a story about Cedar Rapids, but I don't think I'd better tell it,” he said, always quick with a quip. “It's still fun. In about another week, it'll probably be a little more intense. We're in the middle of a reality show, too. They don't travel with us every day. They pick their cities. For instance, we're going to be in Charleston (S.C.) on Wednesday, and we're told Bill Murray is supposed to be there. He's one of the owners of that team. So it'll be nice to have a minute with him. He's crazier than ...”

McLain didn't finish that thought.

The Kernels (6-11 second half) got a combined four-hitter from Austin Wood, Carmine Giardina, R.J. Alvarez and Ty Kelley to even the three-game series at a game apiece. The teams play again today at 12:05.

Wood struck out nine in 5 1/3 innings in a fifth consecutive strong start. His fastball was consistently in the mid-90s according to the stadium scoreboard and hit as high as 97.

He has allowed a run or less in his last five starts. Second baseman Alex Yarbrough went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.

Here is the game boxscore:

Scoreboard _ Midwest League Scoreboard