Dave McNally 1942-2002

Dave McNally, a 3-time All-Star whose landmark victory in an arbitration case opened baseball's free-agent era and led to multimillion-dollar salaries, died of cancer at age 60 on December 1st. Dave McNally, who won 20 or more games in 4 straight seasons with from 1968 to 1971, quit baseball in June 1975 after starting the season 3-6 with Montreal. Even though he said he was retired, the Expos offered him $125,000 to sign a contract. McNally refused to sign and joined Andy Messersmith of the Los Angeles Dodgers in a grievance filed by the Major League Baseball Players Association, claiming the teams couldn't renew their contracts in perpetuity. Arbitrator Peter Seitz agreed with them, issuing the decision on Dec. 23, 1975, that overturned baseball's century-old reserve clause. Owners and the union then negotiated a labor deal under which players could become free agents after they had played in the major leagues for six seasons. With teams competing to sign the top stars, the average salary rose from $44,000 in 1975 to $2.38 million at the start of 2002. Prior to his free agent victory Dave McNally was largely known as one of the premier left-handed pitchers, who was party of the foundation for a Baltimore Orioles team that played in 4 World Series from 1966-1971 winning twice. From 1968-1971 McNally won 20 or more games every season joining Mike Cuellear, Pat Dobson, and Jim Palmer as the only 4 teammates on the same team in the same season to win 20 games in 1971. In the 1966 Dave McNally won the clinching game of the World Series shutting out the Los Angeles Dodgers, recovering from a rough start in Game 1, which he would later recall as the biggest thrill in his career, as the Orioles upset the heavily favored Dodgers. Three years later the Orioles were heavy favorites in the World Series and were upset themselves as McNally lost a pitcher's duel in Game 2 and let a 3-0 lead, in which he hit a Home Run slip away in Game 5 as the Orioles were upset by the New York Mets. A year later McNally would hit another World Series Home Run this time with bases loaded, as the Orioles beat the Cincinnati Reds in 5 games. McNally's Game 3 homer was the only Grand Slam hit by pitcher in the fall classic, and still remains the last time a pitcher deep in the Series. 1971 would bring disappointment again for the Orioles, but it was McNally who overcame a Game 5 loss by winning Game 6 to force a 7th game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, which Baltimore eventually lost. 1971 seemed to be McNally's last good year as he never achieved 20 wins again long 10 or more games the next 3 seasons before being traded to Montreal in 1975, where he struggled before quitting n frustration in the middle of the season. Despite winning Free Agency McNally would not sign with anyone ending a 13-year career. After retiring he returned home to Montana where he was named the state's athlete of the 20th century. According to source McNally had battled cancer for year before passing away on Sunday.