Denny McLain won his 30th game on September 14, 1968. Three days later, the Tigers clinched the pennant. By September 19, there was little for the Tigers and Yankees to play for. The Tigers led New York 6-1 in the eighth inning when the aging star Mickey Mantle came to bat. At the time, Mantle stood tied for third on the all time home run list. In a rare display of sportsmanship, and with the Tigers safely in the lead, McLain allowed Mantle to hit a milestone homerun. However, the Yankee legend almost blew his opportunity not believing McLain could be so gracious.
Denny McLain’s September 19 start was a warm up for the World Series. He faced Yankee 20 game winner Mel Stottlemyre in a premier pitching duel. The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning when Norm Cash homered for a 1-0 Detroit lead. The Yanks tied it with a bases loaded walk in the sixth. In the bottom half of the sixth, the Tigers struck for three on another Cash long ball and RBI single by Eddie Mathews. They put the game away with two in the seventh on a Wayne Comer 2-run single.
The Yankees entered the top of the eighth trailing 6-1. Mantle strode to the plate with one out. McLain motioned for catcher Jim Price to come to the mound. The righty instructed his catcher to notify Mantle that he intended to lay one in there for him to hit out. The home run would break Mantle’s tie for third on the all time home run list. Price promptly informed a dumbfounded Mantle.
McLain threw Mantle a batting practice fastball, which Mantle took. The Yankee could not believe McLain’s sincerity. After two grapefruits, McLain yelled at Mantle promising not to buzz him and berating the Yankee for not hitting one out. On the next pitch, Mantle connected for his 17th homer of the season. The next Yankee hitter, Joe Pepitone, instructed McLain where he would like his pitch. McLain threw one past Pepitone’s ear. The Tigers won the game 6-2.
Detroit’s Denny McLain ruled the baseball world in 1968. Mickey Mantle owned that very world in the fifties and early sixties. As a nod to Mantle, McLain willingly surrendered a milestone homerun. However, Mantle took some coaxing to swing. He could not believe McLain’s kindness, but eventually unleashed on a batting practice fastball to move into third place on baseball's greatest list of milestones.
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