On this day, March 16, in 1985, Denny McLain, the last major league pitcher to win 30 or more games, was convicted of racketeering and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
McLain’s career was cut short by gambling. He once missed six starts because of a foot injury that had been inflicted by gangsters. Trouble followed him into retirement.
In 1985, McLain was indicted on charges of racketeering, conspiracy, extortion and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to import the drug. He was sentenced to 23 years. McLain did two years and was released when his conviction was reversed for prosecutorial misconduct.
In 1996, he was convicted of embezzling $2.5 million from the employees’ pension fund of a meatpacking company he had bought.
— Scott McCabe
