Sudden Sam McDowell Finds Spot in All-Time Tribe Rotation

By Ronnie Tellalian

Sam McDowell was one of the most interesting pitchers in the Indians post World War two era. He blew hitters away with a fastball that earned him the nickname “Sudden Sam”. The pitch that earned him four of the top five single season strikeout totals in Indians history also led him to being one of four Indians ever to walk over 1000 batters in their career. He burst onto the scene as a teenager, and took the City of Cleveland and the American League by storm.

Starting Pitcher: Sam McDowell

The Indians signed McDowell as an amateur free agent in 1960 at the age of 17 out of Central Catholic High School outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He made his first Major League start on September 15^th 1961 at just 18 years old.  From 1962 to 1963 McDowell struggled to make a positive mark in the Majors. He moved up and down from Cleveland to their AAA affiliate in Salk Lake City. His downfall was his control. He posted walks per 9 innings of 7.2 and 6.1 in those first two turbulent seasons.

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