Sam McDowell, the hard-throwing pitcher known as “Sudden” and a six-time All-Star with the Cleveland Indians, has died at 84.
Bob Pompeani of KDKA in Pittsburgh reported that McDowell died Monday, Oct. 5.
McDowell’s big league run stretched 15 seasons and ended with the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates after his years in Cleveland. Across that career, he piled up 2,453 strikeouts, a total that ranked eighth all-time when he retired and sits No. 46 today. He also led the American League in strikeouts five times.
He finished with a 141-134 record and a 3.17 ERA.
Born in Pittsburgh, McDowell reached the majors at 18 in September 1961. By 1965, he had put together the kind of season that made him one of the league’s most intimidating arms: a 2.18 ERA, a career-best 325 strikeouts and his first American League All-Star selection.
His career later was derailed by alcohol abuse, something he wrote about in detail in his 2025 memoir, “The Saga of Sudden Sam: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Sam McDowell.” He made his final appearance for the Pirates in 1975 at age 32.
After his playing days, McDowell became a counselor for athletes dealing with drug and alcohol abuse, working not only with players in MLB but also in the NFL and NHL.
“I remember when I got out of rehab, I must have called that man every day, at every hour of the night, for four straight months,” former big league pitcher Mike York told the Los Angeles Times. “I mean, I was calling him at 5 in the morning, midnight, it didn’t matter. He was always there when I needed him.”
From 1987 to 2016, McDowell served as the Baseball Assistance Team’s addiction and recovery consultant.
He is survived by his two children, Debbie and Tim.
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