MLB All-Star Lindy McDaniel, Reliever for 21 Seasons, Dead at Age 84
Lindy McDaniel, an All-Star reliever who appeared in nearly 1,000 major league games over 21 seasons, has died. He was 84.
Bill Chambers, a longtime friend and fellow elder at the Lavon Church of Christ in Lavon, Texas, said McDaniel died of COVID-19 on Saturday night at an acute care facility in Carrollton, a Dallas suburb.
Steady as a long man and closer, McDaniel pitched in 987 big league games, trailing only Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm when he retired in 1975.
The Hall of Fame remembers former @Cardinals @Cubs @SFGiants @Yankees and @Royals pitcher Lindy McDaniel, who passed away on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/WFYdehiSbM
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) November 16, 2020
McDaniel debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals as a 19-year-old in 1955 and won 15 games as a starter two years later before transitioning to the bullpen for the bulk of his career.
He led the majors with 27 saves in 1960, earning an All-Star selection and tying for third in Cy Young Award balloting with Cardinals teammate Ernie Broglio behind winner Vern Law and runner-up Warren Spahn.
RIP Lindy McDaniel. Great signer and friend of service members and kids. Later on both ends of the Cubs-Cards rivalry. @SABRbbcards @autographblog #ttm pic.twitter.com/fwRn8paWiC
— Ricky Chapps 1️⃣ (@RickyChapps) November 16, 2020
The lanky right-hander pitched eight seasons with St. Louis and six with the New York Yankees, and also appeared for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals.
He finished his career with a 3.45 ERA, 174 saves and a record of 141-119 despite playing for mostly mediocre teams.
For all his success, McDaniel never appeared in a postseason game.
One of the Elders from my old church in Lavon passed away. Before he was an elder, he was professional baseball player. This was his favorite story from his baseball career. I’m going to miss him, his stories and his Godly example so much. #LindyMcDaniel pic.twitter.com/3hgkfs4ywc
— Zachery (@Zacham433) November 16, 2020
McDaniel became a Christian minister in retirement and preached in his hometown of Hollis, Oklahoma, and later in Texas.
Kathi Watters, his daughter, said he had been ill for about four weeks.
He had been an elder at the small Lavon Church of Christ for 12 years and preached there one or two times a month. Funeral details were pending.
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