Cal McLish

“There were eight kids in my family, and I was the only one my father was permitted to name, so I guess he figured he’d make up for the situation.” That is how Cal McLish explains his long string of given names. He went right from American Legion ball to the Dodgers at age 18 in talent-scarce 1944, but didn’t spent a full season in the majors until 1951. Four years in the Pacific Coast League followed before he found success with the Indians; he went 16-8 in 1958, and 19-8 in 1959. He had a nightmarish outing on May 21, 1957 at Boston: in one inning, he walked Jackie Jensen and allowed home runs to Gene MauchTed WilliamsDick Gernert, and Frank Malzone. A lifelong friend of Mauch, McLish broke in with him in 1944, pitched for him in Philadelphia until arm trouble hit in 1964, and was Mauch’s pitching coach on the Phillies (1965-66) and Expos (1969-75).