Mickey looks to be in better shape than he was for most of his career.

Wow, he's lost a LOT of weight.

They don't allow Denny McLain to do this sort of thing, do they? That would seem beyond the pale.

Mickey's definitely off the donuts.

As for McLain, just make sure to keep him and Lolich separated. They still don't like each other.

One of my earliest baseball memories is watching Mickey in that World Series. It made me a Tigers fan, and I was loyal for many years after, even though I lived on the west coast much of that time. It makes me slightly torn in the A's series, but only slightly. BALFOUR RAGE!

As for McLain, just make sure to keep him and Lolich separated. They still don't like each other.

OTOH, this news elevates my opinion of Mickey considerably.

As for McLain, just make sure to keep him and Lolich separated. They still don't like each other.

How big is the group of people who like Denny McLain nowadays, anyhow?

Denny McLain can actually be very personable, a charmer to so to speak, but in my own case, he sent me a rather unpleasant e-mail after I wrote a favorable article about Eddie Brinkman, the man for whom McLain was once traded. Denny felt that I was overrating Brinkman, and in the process, denigrating McLain's value to the Senators.

That trade netted the Tigers Brinkman and Aurelio Rodriguez, who formed a very good left side of the infield and helped Detroit win the AL East in 1972. In contrast, McLain did little for Washington, other than sell a few tickets at RFK Stadium.

McLain has a very appealing personality. Ted Bundy would be his closest comp.

Nice form for a 72-year-old. Heck, nice form period.

What was it with the Detroit organization--was it on this secret holy mission to see how many first-rate pitchers they could destroy? McClain, Lollich (376 innings!Followed by three years of over 300, preceded by two years of almost 300), then a few years later Fidrych. Any others?

In contrast, McLain did little for Washington, other than sell a few tickets at RFK Stadium.

He did crack the big "20" number there, though. Losses, not wins, unfortunately.

Lolich looks good out there. Good for him. He wouldn't have been at the top of the list of 1960s guys you expected to see out there, throwing out the first pitch and looking fit, in 2012.