Lynn McGlothen – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Lynn McGlothen’s name doesn’t echo through baseball halls like some of his peers, but this Louisiana-born pitcher carved out a solid 11-year run in Major League Baseball from 1972 to 1982.

McGlothen retired from pro baseball in 1982 after his last season with the New York Yankees, wrapping up a career where he played for six teams and posted an 86-93 record with 939 strikeouts.

He started his journey with the Boston Red Sox, debuting in 1972, and then bounced to the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and finally the Yankees.

His biggest highlight came in 1974 with an All-Star selection for the Cardinals. That year, he went 16-12 with a 2.70 ERA.

McGlothen’s career really shows how a talented athlete can push through early setbacks and injuries to stick around the majors for over a decade.

He grew up on a farm outside Grambling, Louisiana, and finished his career in Yankee pinstripes. His path through pro baseball is a snapshot of the ups and downs that shaped the sport in the ’70s and early ’80s.

Lynn McGlothen’s Baseball Career Overview

Lynn McGlothen played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1972 to 1982. He posted an 86-93 record with a 3.98 ERA while moving through six teams.

He broke into the majors with the Boston Red Sox at age 22, then pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees before calling it quits in 1982.

Major League Debut and Teams

McGlothen made his MLB debut on June 25, 1972, with the Boston Red Sox at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. The Red Sox called him up from the Triple-A Louisville Colonels after he sharpened his curveball and put up good numbers in the minors.

His rookie season had some bright spots. He struck out seven and held the Brewers to one hit through six innings in his debut. On July 4, he tossed his first major league shutout, a three-hit, 2-0 win over the Minnesota Twins.

The Red Sox wrapped up McGlothen’s rookie year with an 8-7 record and a 3.41 ERA in 145 innings. That 3.41 ERA was actually the best by a Red Sox rookie with at least 20 starts since 1969.

After a rough 1973, the Red Sox traded McGlothen to the St. Louis Cardinals in December of that year. He went to St. Louis with Mike Garman and John Curtis, and the Red Sox got Reggie Cleveland, Diego Segui, and Terry Hughes.

He also suited up for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees before retiring.

Career Timeline and Key Highlights

McGlothen’s career stretched from 1972 to 1982 across several franchises. His best years happened in the mid-’70s with the Cardinals and Giants.

Key Career Stats:

  • 86 wins, 93 losses
  • 3.98 ERA
  • 939 strikeouts
  • 1,497â…” innings pitched

In 1972, some veteran players compared McGlothen to Hall of Famer Bob Gibson. Reggie Smith said McGlothen “reminds you a lot of Gibson. He works fast, has a good fast ball and excellent curve.”

While with St. Louis, McGlothen led the team in shutouts in 1974. He could even help at the plate when needed.

He battled injuries and weight issues throughout his career. A torn cartilage in his right knee in 1973 sent him to surgery, but he bounced back quickly and helped his minor league team win championships.

Retirement in 1982

Lynn McGlothen wrapped up his big league career in 1982 after 11 seasons. That last year marked the end of a journey that saw him pitch for six different organizations.

He finished with an 86-93 record and a 3.98 ERA over 1,497â…” innings. He racked up 939 strikeouts in the majors.

Even though he got compared to some elite pitchers early on, McGlothen’s career never quite hit those heights. Injuries, weight struggles, and maybe a questionable work ethic kept him from reaching his full potential.

After he retired, McGlothen returned to Louisiana. Fans remembered him for his big smile and how approachable he was at the ballpark.

Sadly, McGlothen died young in 1984, just two years after he left baseball. He lost his life in an accidental mobile home fire in Louisiana at only 34.

Early Life and Athletic Beginnings

Lynn Everett McGlothen was born March 27, 1950, in Monroe, Louisiana. He grew up on a farm about seven miles from Grambling.

His athletic abilities started turning heads in high school, where he played several sports and eventually caught the eye of Boston Red Sox scouts.

Childhood and Education

McGlothen spent his childhood on a farm near Grambling, Louisiana. That rural life built up his work ethic and determination early on.

He went to Grambling High School, where his athletic skills really started to show. All those farm chores helped him develop physically and mentally.

For two years, McGlothen walked fourteen miles daily to get to and from school. That’s seven miles each way, every single day—talk about dedication.

His coaches and teammates didn’t know about his daily trek for two years. Maybe he was shy or maybe just didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.

Once his coaches found out, they made sure he got at least one ride each day. That support let him put more energy into sports.

High School and Multi-Sport Achievements

At Grambling High, McGlothen was a standout. He earned an incredible sixteen varsity letters in four different sports.

He played:

  • Football – Made the All-State team in 1967
  • Basketball – Regular varsity player
  • Baseball – Showed off his pitching
  • Tennis – Was a force at the state level

He won the state high school tennis championship three years in a row, from sophomore through senior year. That’s some serious consistency.

McGlothen also shined on the football field, landing a spot on the 1967 All-State team. That kind of versatility is rare.

Entry Into Professional Baseball

The Boston Red Sox picked McGlothen in the third round of the June 1968 amateur draft. Scouts noticed his baseball talent even though he excelled in other sports.

Back in 1968, athletes usually had to pick one sport instead of specializing early. McGlothen could’ve chased tennis professionally or taken college football offers.

He signed with the Red Sox almost right after the draft. They sent him to Waterloo in the Midwest League to start his pro journey.

His early minor league years focused on controlling his pitches. He struck out plenty of hitters, averaging more than 7.0 strikeouts per nine innings, but walks were still a problem.

Between 1969 and 1970, McGlothen dropped his walk rate from 5.3 to 3.6 per nine innings. That helped bring his ERA down from 3.92 to 2.24. Not bad at all.

Notable Seasons and Accomplishments

Lynn McGlothen hit his stride in the mid-1970s, earning an All-Star nod with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974. His best years came with the Cardinals, where he stacked up three straight winning seasons from 1974 to 1976.

1974 All-Star Appearance

McGlothen’s breakout season was 1974 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He went 16-12 with a 2.70 ERA and made his only All-Star team.

That year, he went from promising rookie to legit big league pitcher. The 1974 season was his best, stats-wise.

He threw three shutouts that year, showing he could dominate a lineup. That strong run secured his spot in the Cardinals’ rotation.

The All-Star selection came in just his second full season. It kind of backed up those early comparisons to Cardinals legend Bob Gibson.

Key Achievements with St. Louis Cardinals

McGlothen’s best stretch was with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1974 to 1976. He picked up 15 wins in 1975 and 13 wins in 1976, giving him three straight winning seasons.

His 1974 campaign, with 16 victories, really stood out. He gave the Cardinals quality starts and stability in the rotation.

That run with St. Louis turned him into a dependable mid-rotation guy. It all happened after he struggled with injuries and some inconsistency in Boston.

The Cardinals traded for McGlothen in December 1973, sending three players to Boston. That move worked out for both him and the team during those three years.

Career Highlights with Other Teams

McGlothen started off with the Boston Red Sox, debuting on June 25, 1972. He finished his rookie season 8-7 with a 3.41 ERA in 145 innings.

He moved to the San Francisco Giants after a trade from St. Louis before the 1977 season. His time with the Giants didn’t match his Cardinals success.

The Chicago White Sox released him in 1982, ending his 11-year career. He wrapped up with 86 wins and 93 losses in 320 games.

He also pitched for the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees. His overall ERA sat at 3.98 with 939 strikeouts over six teams.

Pitching Style and Statistical Performance

McGlothen put together a career record of 86 wins and 93 losses, a 3.98 ERA, and 939 strikeouts across 11 seasons. In 1982, he really struggled, pitching just 4 games with a sky-high ERA.

Wins and Losses Record

McGlothen ended up with 86 wins and 93 losses—not exactly a winning record. His career had its share of challenges.

He played for six teams, including the Cubs and Cardinals. All the moving around made it tough to find consistency and get into a groove.

The teams he played for influenced his win-loss numbers. Different coaches and team vibes meant he had to adapt a lot.

Those 93 losses say a lot about the teams he joined—many just didn’t give him much run support. He took losses in years when his teams struggled to score.

Earned Run Average (ERA)

McGlothen posted a career ERA of 3.98, which is pretty respectable for the time he played. That put him right in the mix with other starting pitchers of the ’70s and early ’80s.

But 1982 was rough. That year, his ERA shot up during his few appearances.

At home in 1982, he had a 27.00 ERA in just one game. He pitched only a third of an inning, gave up 1 hit, 1 earned run, and 1 homer.

On the road that year, his ERA was 10.71 over 3 games. He threw 4.2 innings, allowed 8 hits, and gave up 5 earned runs—no homers, though.

Strikeouts and Other Key Metrics

McGlothen finished with 939 strikeouts in his career, showing he could make hitters miss. That’s a solid number for a guy who relied on mixing speeds and hitting his spots.

His strikeout numbers matched other pitchers from his era who weren’t pure flamethrowers. When he was healthy, he could challenge hitters and get out of jams.

In his final season, 1982, McGlothen walked just 2 batters in 4 games. He didn’t throw any wild pitches or hit any batters, so his control held up even as his results slipped.

He allowed 9 hits in 5 innings that year, which really hurt his ERA in those last outings.

Notable Game Performances

McGlothen’s 1982 season included just 4 Major League games, which felt like a sharp drop from his earlier career highs. With so few appearances, you had to wonder if he was fighting through some serious struggles.

He pitched at home in 1982, but it lasted only 0.1 innings before the manager pulled him. That quick outing hurt right away, as he gave up a home run almost immediately.

On the road, he managed a bit more time on the mound but with similar frustrations. He got through 4.2 innings over 3 games, though he allowed a lot of hits, making those outings tough to watch.

His last season really showed how tough it is for aging pitchers to keep up. When his velocity dropped and his command wavered, competing at the big-league level became nearly impossible.

Career Transitions and Team Trades

McGlothen played for eleven years, bouncing between six different franchises. He moved around Major League Baseball, landing with both American and National League teams, which seemed pretty common for players in the ’70s and early ’80s.

Boston Red Sox to St. Louis Cardinals

The Boston Red Sox drafted McGlothen in the third round of the 1968 June Amateur Draft. Coming from Louisiana, he made his major league debut in 1972 and stuck with Boston for two seasons.

He pitched for the Red Sox through 1973, trying to carve out a spot as a right-hander in their rotation. Those early years were all about finding his place in the big leagues.

After the 1973 season, the Red Sox traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals. That deal sent him to the National League and changed the direction of his career.

St. Louis Cardinals to San Francisco Giants

McGlothen really hit his stride with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1974 to 1976. He spent three full years with them, settling into their pitching rotation.

With St. Louis, he established himself as a reliable pitcher in the National League. The Cardinals used him as both a starter and a reliever, depending on what the team needed.

After the 1976 season, the Cardinals traded him to the San Francisco Giants. He stayed with San Francisco for parts of 1977 and 1978, keeping his career alive on the West Coast.

Later Career Moves: Cubs, White Sox, and Yankees

McGlothen’s last few years in the majors felt like a whirlwind of team changes. He joined the Chicago Cubs in 1978 and hung around there until 1981.

One of his most memorable trades happened during his Cubs stint. On August 15, 1981, Chicago sent him to the Chicago White Sox for a player to be named later. The Cubs eventually got Bob Molinaro on March 29, 1982, to finish that deal.

The White Sox released him on April 13, 1982, so his time with them was incredibly brief. He wrapped up his career with the New York Yankees in 1982, which brought him back to the American League, right where he started.

Legacy and Life After Baseball

McGlothen’s career ended suddenly in 1982, but people around the game still felt his impact. Sadly, his life after baseball ended just two years later in 1984.

Impact on Teams and Teammates

Throughout his 11 seasons, McGlothen made a real impression on teammates. Some players even compared him to St. Louis Cardinals legend Bob Gibson, which says a lot about his potential and style.

He had his best years with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1974 to 1976. In 1974, he made the All-Star team, posting a 16-12 record and a 2.70 ERA.

Teammates remembered him as more than just a baseball player. Back in high school, he won three state tennis championships and excelled in other sports too.

Reggie Smith, a perennial All-Star, talked up McGlothen’s quick pace, solid fastball, and sharp curve. Smith really seemed to respect what McGlothen brought to the mound.

Carl Yastrzemski, a future Hall of Famer, predicted early on that McGlothen would succeed. Yastrzemski called him “a winning pitcher,” not just another guy filling a roster spot.

Community and Post-Retirement Influence

McGlothen’s life after baseball was short and honestly, pretty tough. After the Chicago White Sox let him go in 1982, he ran into a lot of personal challenges.

The White Sox picked rookie Salome Barojas instead of keeping McGlothen on the roster. Even though he tried to show some spark in spring training, they released him just two days into the season.

He went through a rough patch in his personal life too, dealing with several marriages and divorces. He’d been married three times and had just divorced his third wife before he died.

On August 14, 1984, McGlothen and his girlfriend died in a tragic mobile home fire in Louisiana. He was only 34.

His early death meant he never really got the chance to get involved with the community or try coaching. Most people remember McGlothen for his playing days and the mark he left on his teammates.

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