Dave McNally

David McNally
Born	(1942-10-31) 31 October 1942 Billings, Montana, U.S.
Died	1 December 2002(2002-12-01) (aged 60)
Occupation	Professional baseball player
Years active	1962–1975
Known for	Left-handed pitcher for Baltimore Orioles; 3× All-Star; 2× World Series champion

David Arthur McNally (1942–2002)

David Arthur McNally (born October 31, 1942 – died December 1, 2002) was a professional American baseball athlete who served as a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1975. He is best remembered for his key role with the Baltimore Orioles during their dominant era, contributing to four American League pennants and securing two World Series titles between 1966 and 1971. A three-time All-Star, McNally achieved the milestone of winning 20 or more games for four straight seasons spanning 1968 to 1971. Notably, he was part of the rare 1971 Orioles squad that featured four pitchers each with 20 wins—alongside Pat Dobson, Jim Palmer, and Mike Cuellar—a feat unmatched by any team since.

Originating from Billings, Montana, McNally was raised by his mother following the death of his father in the Battle of Okinawa. After signing with the Orioles directly out of high school in 1960, he made his major league debut two years later, impressively pitching a shutout in his initial appearance. Between 1963 and 1965, he honed his pitching skills and solidified his position within Baltimore’s starting rotation. In the 1966 World Series, McNally started twice, including a shutout performance that secured a 4–0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. His progress was hindered in 1967 by a calcium deposit in his elbow, which curtailed his participation in the latter half of that season. Yet, he rebounded strongly in 1968, earning the Comeback Player of the Year honor after finishing second in the American League with 22 victories.

McNally earned his first selection to the All-Star Game in 1969 and concluded that season with 20 wins. During the inaugural AL Championship Series, he pitched eleven scoreless innings to defeat the Minnesota Twins in Game 2. He then faced off against the New York Mets twice during the World Series, hitting a notable home run off pitcher Jerry Koosman. Despite his efforts, Baltimore fell short in five games. The following year, McNally tied for the league lead with 24 wins and hit a crucial grand slam in Game 3 of the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, helping secure his second championship as the Orioles triumphed in five games. Although injuries sidelined him for six weeks in 1971, he still managed to be one of four Orioles pitchers to reach 20 wins that season. In that year's World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, McNally won Game 1, lost Game 5, and contributed as a reliever to a Game 6 victory before Baltimore ultimately lost in seven games.

In 1972, McNally received his third All-Star nod but ended with his first losing record since 1964—a result partly influenced by reduced run support from his team compared to previous seasons. During postseason appearances in both 1973 and 1974 against the Oakland Athletics, he was unable to secure victories in either start. Seeking new opportunities, McNally requested a trade after the 1974 campaign; Baltimore acquiesced and traded him to the Montreal Expos. He played one final season there before retiring midway through 1975 due to diminished ability to throw his fastball effectively. Following retirement, McNally joined a grievance challenging baseball’s restrictive reserve clause, which ultimately led to the landmark Seitz decision and ushered in free agency within the sport. Returning to Billings, Montana, he worked as an automobile dealer until passing away from cancer in 2002. Inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame, McNally remains among Baltimore’s all-time leaders across numerous pitching statistics.

Early life

Born on October 31, 1942, in Billings, Montana, McNally lost his father, James, before turning three when he was killed during the Battle of Okinawa. His mother, Betsy, supported the family by working at a welfare office. As the youngest among four siblings, McNally attended Billings Central Catholic High School. Since the school lacked a baseball team, his playing experience came through the Billings Royals, an American Legion squad. During his tenure with the Royals, the team was in the midst of a streak of 14 consecutive state championships and reached the Legion World Series twice. In 1960, McNally posted an impressive pitching record of 18–1. Both the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers showed interest in him; ultimately, he signed with the Orioles in September 1960, just shy of his 18th birthday. Reflecting later, he remarked that had he known about Baltimore’s abundance of young pitching talent, he might have chosen the Dodgers instead. The scout responsible for signing him, Jim Russo, also brought notable players like Jim Palmer and Boog Powell to the Orioles.

Minor league career

Following his signing, McNally participated in an instructional league for the Orioles during fall 1960 before being assigned to the Victoria Rosebuds of the Class AA Texas League in 1961. He initially faced challenges at this level, losing three out of four starts and posting a high 6.16 earned run average (ERA). Consequently, Baltimore reassigned him to the Fox Cities Foxes in the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. Although he recorded a losing mark of 8–10 there, his ERA improved significantly to 4.18 across 25 appearances.

In 1962, pitching for the Class A Elmira Pioneers of the Eastern League, McNally emerged as the team’s standout performer. He tied with Wilbur Wood and Sonny Siebert for second place in league wins with 15 victories—just one behind leader Paul Seitz. Additionally, he ranked second in strikeouts with 195 (trailing only Bob Heffner’s 234), tied for eighth in innings pitched at 196 alongside John Pregenzer, and shared third place for shutouts with four—behind only Steve Dalkowski’s six and Richard Slomkowski’s five. His ERA stood at a solid 3.08.

Establishing himself in the Majors (1962–65)

McNally pictured in 1966.

After his successful stint with Elmira, McNally was called up by Baltimore in September 1962 and made one start. On September 26, he pitched the opening game of a doubleheader versus the Kansas City Athletics. Although nervous at his major league debut, he delivered a nine-inning shutout allowing only two hits.

Prior to the 1963 season, Orioles manager Billy Hitchcock identified McNally as part of a promising group expected to bolster Baltimore’s pitching staff as needed. An injury to Steve Dalkowski opened a spot for McNally as a left-handed reliever on the roster. After one bullpen appearance, he made an emergency start on April 20 when Chuck Estrada was sidelined due to injury; McNally held the Cleveland Indians to a single run over a complete game en route to a 7–1 win. He won his first two starts but struggled afterward with seven runs allowed in one outing and five in another. This led to his reassignment back to relief duties until early June. When Estrada was placed on the disabled list on June 8 because of elbow issues including a bone spur, McNally took over his spot in the starting rotation on June 12 and remained there for the rest of the season. His first start after joining the rotation resulted in a no-decision despite limiting the powerful New York Yankees lineup to two runs (one earned) over 7+1⁄3 innings during a narrow loss. On August 22 against the California Angels, he pitched a complete game allowing just one run while striking out eight batters as Baltimore won handily. Across his rookie campaign spanning 29 games (20 starts), McNally compiled a record of 7–8 with a 4.58 ERA alongside striking out 78 batters and walking 55 over 125+2⁄3 innings. To further refine his skills after that season ended, he pitched winter ball in Puerto Rico.

In most of the following year (1964), McNally served primarily as a starting pitcher. Notably, on May 12 he threw a two-hit shutout against the Washington Senators, leading Baltimore to a decisive 5–0 victory. Another shutout came on June 2 against Kansas City in a similar dominant performance ending with a score of 4–0. By August mid-month he had recorded a record of seven wins against ten losses with an ERA under four across twenty-two outings—twenty-one as starts. After this point though, his role shifted mostly back into relief work with only two additional starts for that season. One such start on September 7 during a doubleheader against Kansas City was notably brief; facing just four batters who all scored as Baltimore fell by six to one. Conversely on October 1 against Washington Senators he carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before surrendering a double by Don Lock en route to completing a shutout. Over thirty games that year (twenty-three starts), McNally finished with nine wins and eleven losses alongside a respectable ERA of under four while recording eighty-eight strikeouts and fifty-one walks across 1⁄159}{1}{3 innings pitched. His three shutouts ranked tied for ninth place among American League pitchers that season.

During spring training before the start of the ’65 season, it was discovered that opposing hitters could anticipate which pitch McNally intended by reading his body movements; he corrected this flaw prior to regular season action. While making occasional relief appearances throughout that year, he primarily served as Baltimore’s fifth starter. His ERA stood at approximately four through May’s end but improved thereafter. Midway through the season he stopped smoking and gained around twenty pounds which he credited for enhancing his performance; however post-season he resumed smoking again. On August 4 during the second game of a doubleheader versus California Angels he pitched another shutout leading Baltimore to an eight-nothing win. For two consecutive years now on October 1st he recorded shutouts; this time limiting Cleveland Indians to two hits in a two-nothing victory during game one of a doubleheader. He surpassed ten wins for the first time finishing with eleven victories against six defeats while posting an ERA below three across thirty-five games (twenty-nine starts). He struck out one hundred sixteen batters while issuing seventy-three walks over {{frac{198}{2}{3}}} innings pitched.

World Series champion, difficulties, and resurgence (1966–68)

On April 16, 1966, McNally limited the Yankees to just two runs over 7+1⁄3 innings, contributing to a 7–2 triumph over New York. During a July 21 matchup against the Detroit Tigers, McNally was one out shy of completing the game with Baltimore ahead 6–2. However, an error by Davey Johnson allowed an additional run to cross the plate. Following a run-scoring double by Don Wert, manager Hank Bauer relieved McNally with Eddie Fisher. Although McNally was charged with four runs (two earned), he secured the victory as the Orioles held on to win 6–4. By the end of July, McNally had amassed a 10–3 record but finished the season's final two months with an even split of three wins and three losses. Among those victories was a shutout against the Senators on August 6 in a 4–0 win. Mark Armour from the Society for American Baseball Research described him as "the team's most reliable starter" during the 1966 campaign. Over 34 appearances (33 starts), he recorded a 13–6 win-loss tally, maintained a 3.17 ERA, struck out 158 batters, walked 64, and allowed 212 hits across 213 innings. At the plate, McNally maintained an unusually high batting average for a pitcher—hovering near .250 midseason—and concluded the year with a .195 average. When questioned about his hitting prowess during midseason, he remarked, "I don't have to explain my hitting. I mean, did Ted Williams have to explain?"

Memorial Stadium, where McNally played his home games throughout his tenure with the Orioles.

The Orioles secured the American League pennant in 1966 and faced off against the reigning champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the 1966 World Series. In Game Four, McNally and opposing pitcher Don Drysdale each allowed only four hits; Baltimore's sole hit came from Frank Robinson, who hit a solo home run in the fourth inning leading to a tight 1–0 victory. Reflecting on that performance, McNally stated, "I had many factors working in my favor that day. The movement on my fastball was effective, and I also had a solid curveball and changeup." His shutout completed a World Series where Baltimore pitchers set a record by throwing 33+1⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings. This streak started with relief pitcher Moe Drabowsky's 6+2⁄3 innings of shutout relief after entering in Game One's third inning—despite issuing a bases-loaded walk that scored Lou Johnson, which accounted for the Dodgers' only two runs in the series—followed by shutouts from both Jim Palmer and Wally Bunker. Remarkably, during the regular season these three pitchers combined for only one shutout total—that being McNally's August 6 shutout against Washington. This victory marked Baltimore’s inaugural World Series title; an enduring image from that moment is of third baseman Brooks Robinson leaping joyfully toward McNally at the mound in celebration.

In the following year of 1967, McNally was chosen as Baltimore’s Opening Day starting pitcher. During the first game of a doubleheader on April 16 against the Angels, he pitched eight scoreless innings before allowing two runs in the eighth. Leading by two runs entering the ninth inning, he retired two batters but then surrendered consecutive home runs to José Cardenal and Don Mincher, resulting in relinquishing the lead. He was subsequently pulled from the game as Baltimore fell in extra innings by a score of 5–4. After posting just six losses combined during ’65 and ’66 seasons, McNally had already accrued five losses by June 18 of ’67 along with an elevated ERA of 5.71. Medical evaluation revealed a calcium buildup in his left elbow that month; treatment involved draining fluid and administering cortisone injections. Following his initial cortisone shot, McNally delivered a complete-game performance on July 6 against the Chicago White Sox, limiting them to one run on five hits en route to a 5–1 victory. One week later during the second game of a doubleheader versus the Boston Red Sox, he pitched a shutout leading to a commanding Orioles win of 10–0. Nevertheless, his injury limited him to only four appearances after July 21. Across his season total of twenty-four games (twenty-two starts), he ended with a balanced record of seven wins and seven losses alongside a higher ERA of 4.54; he struck out seventy batters while walking thirty-nine and allowing one hundred thirty-four hits over one hundred nineteen innings.

McNally did not make his first start of the ’68 season until game five but managed to hold the Oakland Athletics to just one run during a complete-game effort resulting in a solid 4–1 win on April 17. Although sporting an impressive ERA of only 2.23 through early July along with an even win-loss record of eight wins and eight losses across his first two starts that month when Earl Weaver took over as manager; starting Weaver’s debut game on July 11 against Washington Senators he pitched a two-hit shutout that lasted just two hours and twelve minutes. This performance marked the beginning of an impressive twelve-game winning streak for him. On July 20 against Detroit Tigers’ ace Denny McLain—who would go on to win thirty-one games that year—McNally allowed only one run over 6+1⁄3 innings and hit his first major league home run during Baltimore’s eventual five-to-three victory. The winning streak culminated on September 28 when he achieved twenty wins for the first time after pitching a complete game allowing just two unearned runs as Baltimore defeated Chicago White Sox four to two. That season saw him finish among American League leaders: second in wins with twenty-two behind McLain’s thirty-one; third in ERA at an outstanding1.95 behind Luis Tiant’s1.60 and Sam McDowell’s1.81; fifth place with202 strikeouts; tied seventh for five shutouts alongside George Brunet; and fourth in innings pitched with273. He also surpassed Barney Pelty’s longstanding franchise record for walks plus hits per inning pitched set back in1906 by establishing a new mark of0.852 which led all AL pitchers. At bat during this season he launched three home runs; he would continue hitting at least one homer annually until adoption of the American League designated hitter rule in1973. For overcoming injury successfully this year he earned recognition as Major League Baseball’s Comeback Player of the Year and ranked fifth in American League Most Valuable Player balloting while also being named Baltimore’s team MVP.

Annual World Series Appearances (1969–71)

Following his victories in the final two games of the 1968 season, McNally began 1969 with an impressive 15–0 streak. His initial defeat came on August 3 against the Minnesota Twins, when Rich Reese hit a grand slam off him. He finished the regular season with a 20–7 record. At that time, his 17 consecutive wins set a new American League record, and his 15 straight victories to start the season matched another AL record. On April 12, he delivered a four-hit shutout in a 9–0 triumph over the Senators. Nearly achieving a no-hitter on May 5, McNally lost it with just one out remaining in the ninth inning when Cesar Tovar singled; however, he induced Rod Carew into a double play to maintain the shutout. He followed this by pitching consecutive shutouts against the White Sox on June 15 and the Senators on June 19. That year marked his first selection to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Although his record dipped to 5–7 during the final two months, he returned to postseason play as the Orioles clinched the AL East title. His 20 wins tied him for third place in the league behind Denny McLain's 24 and teammate Mike Cuellar's 23. Additionally, his four shutouts ranked fourth alongside five others, he was ninth in strikeouts with 166, and second only to McLain with 40 starts. McNally secured 13th place in AL MVP voting and was fourth in Cy Young Award considerations.

In postseason action, Baltimore faced Minnesota in the newly established best-of-five American League Championship Series (ALCS), with the victor advancing to the World Series. In Game 2, McNally pitched nine scoreless innings, allowing only three hits; however, the Orioles failed to score, sending the game into extra innings. Continuing on the mound, he retired all batters in a hitless tenth inning. In the eleventh inning's top half, after walking Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva to put runners in scoring position, he recorded a line out from Bob Allison to left fielder Don Buford. Curt Motton then drove in the winning run in the bottom half, securing a 1–0 victory for Baltimore. This shutout remains the longest by any pitcher in postseason history, and MLB.com’s Will Leitch later described it as Baltimore’s most thrilling playoff win as of 2018. The Orioles then confronted the New York Mets in the World Series. In Game 2, tied at one run each entering the ninth inning with two outs, McNally surrendered three consecutive singles that gave New York a 2–1 lead—the only runs he allowed that game—but it was enough for a Mets victory. During Game 5, McNally hit a two-run homer off Jerry Koosman and pitched seven innings with the score tied at three; nevertheless, Baltimore lost 5–3, and New York claimed the series in five games.

On June 9, 1970, McNally homered off Tom Murphy and limited California Angels to three runs over seven innings; however, bullpen struggles led to a 7–5 loss for Baltimore. Twelve days later on June 21, he pitched into the ninth before Pete Richert relieved him; McNally allowed only two runs as Baltimore defeated Washington Senators 4–2, marking his 100th career win. He earned his second consecutive All-Star selection that year under manager Earl Weaver. By mid-July (July 18), McNally held a 12–7 record with a 4.38 ERA but dramatically improved thereafter—posting a remarkable 1.96 ERA and going 12–2 while Baltimore won 14 of his last 17 appearances. Between July 26 and August 29, he achieved nine straight victories. On August 21, he pitched a shutout against California in a 5–0 win. Four days later against Oakland Athletics, despite conceding ten hits during a complete game, he allowed only one run and recorded his twentieth win as Baltimore triumphed 5–1. On August 29 versus Milwaukee Brewers, he gave up just one unearned run over a complete game in a 6–1 victory. Throughout this season, whenever Palmer, Cuellar, and McNally started games for Baltimore, they never lost more than two consecutive games; on both occasions when such streaks occurred, McNally ended them himself. His total of twenty-four wins tied him with Cuellar and Jim Perry for the league lead; he ranked seventh in strikeouts with 185; shared first place for starts at forty; and was fourth in innings pitched at 296. Afterward, he finished second in Cy Young Award voting behind Jim Perry and placed sixteenth in AL MVP voting.

In their second straight ALCS matchup against Minnesota in 1970, McNally started Game 2 for Baltimore and held the Twins hitless through three innings while Baltimore scored three runs early. He extended Baltimore’s lead to 4–0 with an RBI single off Tom Hall in the fourth inning but then allowed back-to-back home runs from Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva after walking Leo Cárdenas—cutting the lead to one run at 4–3. McNally did not allow any further scoring as Baltimore eventually cruised to an eleven-run total and an eleven-to-three victory en route to sweeping the series.

In that year’s World Series against Cincinnati Reds, McNally started Game 3 and permitted one run early but contained Cincinnati’s offense through six innings while receiving four runs of support from Baltimore’s lineup. In an unusual moment during the sixth inning after Reds’ pitcher Tony Cloninger walked Paul Blair with one out and was replaced by Wayne Granger who gave up a double to Brooks Robinson and an intentional walk to Davey Johnson before striking out Andy Etchebarren—McNally stepped up as batter with bases loaded and two outs. He hit a grand slam off Granger into left field seats becoming MLB’s only pitcher ever to hit a grand slam during a World Series game. Although he surrendered two more runs afterward, Baltimore’s lead proved sufficient for a decisive nine-to-three win. After losing Game 4, Baltimore won Game 5 to claim their second World Series championship of McNally’s career. The bat used by McNally for that grand slam (borrowed from Curt Motton) is now preserved at Cooperstown's Baseball Hall of Fame.

At the start of the following season (1971), McNally’s salary was increased to $85,000. On Opening Day (April 7), he threw a complete game limiting Washington Senators to two runs for a narrow three-to-two victory. On April 23 against California Angels’ Clyde Wright, both pitchers held their opponents to two runs until Baltimore erupted for six runs in the ninth inning securing an eight-to-two win for McNally’s team. On September 7 versus Cleveland Indians, he allowed only one run over nine innings while also hitting a two-run home run off pitcher Sam McDowell en route to a three-to-one victory.

A sore arm sidelined him for six weeks during July and August; nonetheless, he became Baltimore’s first twenty-game winner by pitching a shutout against New York Yankees on September 21. That year featured four Orioles pitchers (McNally along with Pat Dobson, Jim Palmer and Mike Cuellar) each winning twenty games—a feat last accomplished by four members of Chicago White Sox back in 1920. Leading Baltimore with twenty-one wins tied with Catfish Hunter for fourth place league-wide; his ERA of 2.89 ranked seventh; and he topped AL pitchers with an .808 winning percentage overall. Over thirty starts that season, his record stood at twenty-one wins against five losses while striking out ninety-one batters across approximately two hundred twenty-four innings pitched plus one-third inning fraction. He placed fourth in Cy Young Award voting and eleventh in AL MVP balloting that year—becoming the first American League pitcher since Red Ruffing (1936-1939) to record four consecutive seasons with twenty or more wins.

The Orioles secured their third consecutive AL East title in ’71 and faced Oakland Athletics again for ALCS honors. Starting Game 1 for Baltimore despite conceding three runs over seven innings—and admitting postgame that his pitching was not at its best—he earned credit for victory after Orioles rallied from being down three-to-one by scoring four runs in their seventh inning to win five-to-three.

In their subsequent World Series matchup against Pittsburgh Pirates, McNally started Game 1 prompting Pirates’ manager Danny Murtaugh to replace left-handed hitters Richie Hebner and Al Oliver with right-handed batters Jose Pagan and Gene Clines respectively—though less potent offensively—to counterbalance McNally’s pitching style. Despite errors by Mark Belanger and Elrod Hendricks leading to three unearned runs during Pittsburgh’s early scoring surge in second inning, McNally held Pirates scoreless thereafter while limiting them to just three hits overall—including retiring nineteen batters consecutively at one point—in leading Baltimore to a complete game five-to-three triumph.

His performance declined somewhat during Game 5 where he yielded four runs (three earned) across four innings resulting in Orioles’ four-to-nil loss.

In Game 6 tied at two runs apiece entering extra innings’ tenth frame with two outs on board—McNally entered relief duty walked Willie Stargell loading bases but then retired Al Oliver on fly ball preserving tie before Brooks Robinson delivered sacrifice fly scoring winning run giving Orioles three-to-two victory credited as win for McNally.

In decisive Game 7 facing Stargell again with runners on base late inning—McNally successfully induced ground out ending inning but Orioles ultimately fell two-to-one surrendering series title after seven games played by Pittsburgh Pirates.

Salary boost and improved control (1972–74)

McNally pictured in 1973.

In 1972, the Orioles increased McNally's earnings once more, setting his salary at $105,000. Early in the season, specifically on April 17 during Baltimore's second game, he delivered a shutout, leading the Orioles to a 4–0 win over the Yankees. Remarkably, shutouts characterized four of his first five starts that year. Although the Orioles managed just a single run on July 5, it was sufficient as McNally blanked the White Sox to secure victory. That season marked his third selection to the All-Star roster, yet he was charged with the loss in the 10th inning after Joe Morgan drove in the decisive run with a single. By July 22, McNally held a 10–7 win-loss record; however, he managed only three wins in his final 13 decisions. This decline was partly attributable to diminished offensive support from Baltimore’s lineup. Despite posting a lower ERA of 2.95 compared to the previous year, the Orioles’ run production dropped from 4.7 to 3.3 runs per game. Consequently, McNally ended with a losing record of 13–17 for the first time since 1964 and tied for third in the American League with 17 losses, trailing only Stottlemyre and teammate Dobson who had 18 each. On a positive note, he tied for fourth place in AL shutouts with six, alongside Tiant and Roger Nelson.

The following season began strongly for McNally as he pitched a shutout against the Brewers on April 6, 1973. Shortly after, on April 12, he limited Detroit to three hits over nine and two-thirds innings in a tense 1–0 ten-inning victory. On May 10, he lasted ten innings against Oakland but was tagged with a loss when Joe Rudi’s RBI double in the tenth inning gave Oakland a 4–3 win. Despite surrendering ten hits to the Yankees on June 27, McNally allowed no runs in Baltimore’s 4–0 triumph. He repeated this feat by shutting out New York again on September 1 in a narrow 1–0 win. After starting August with a record of 9–12, he improved to finish at an even .500 mark of 17–17 following a win over Milwaukee on September 23 and a loss six days later. Over 38 starts that year, McNally recorded a 3.21 ERA along with 87 strikeouts and issued 81 walks while giving up 247 hits across 266 innings pitched. His total of 17 losses tied him for fifth most in the league with Bert Blyleven and Rudy May, but his ERA ranked ninth among AL pitchers.

Baltimore clinched the AL East title once again in 1973 and faced Oakland in the ALCS. McNally started Game 2 but struggled by allowing five runs—including four home runs—over seven and two-thirds innings as Baltimore fell 6–3. This appearance was his sole outing during the series, which Oakland ultimately won in five games.

On June 15, 1974, McNally pitched an extended game of eleven innings against Chicago’s White Sox, conceding three runs but earning the win when Boog Powell hit a walk-off homer in the bottom half of the eleventh inning. Two weeks later, he threw a two-hit shutout against New York as Baltimore secured a 2–0 victory. During a doubleheader versus Boston on July 3, McNally was called for two balks in the opening inning of Game One; after an intense ten-minute discussion involving manager Weaver, he was ejected from that contest. The Orioles went on to win that game decisively at 9–2 and later secured Game Two by a score of 6–4 with McNally recording the save in the ninth inning. His record stood at an even .500 (8–8) by July 28 but improved significantly as he won eight of his final ten decisions to close out the season at 16–10. Among notable performances was an August 18 shutout against Kansas City that enabled Baltimore to prevail by one run. On September 24, McNally surrendered Al Kaline’s milestone three-thousandth career hit during a game which ended with no decision for him but resulted in a Orioles’ victory by one run. Throughout that season’s span of thirty-nine games (thirty-seven starts), McNally posted sixteen wins against ten losses while striking out one hundred eleven batters and walking eighty-one across two hundred fifty-nine innings pitched; he also allowed two hundred sixty hits. His four shutouts tied him for sixth place among pitchers league-wide. Although his earned run average of 3.58 was slightly below the league average by .04 points, it represented his highest ERA since his injury-plagued campaign of 1967. After completing this season, McNally requested a trade, believing that switching teams might rejuvenate his career prospects.

Montreal Expos (1975)

In 1975, the Expos hosted their home contests at Jarry Park Stadium.

After spending 13 seasons with the Orioles, McNally was traded on December 4, Template:Mlby, during the Winter Meetings, along with Rich Coggins and minor league right-hander Bill Kirkpatrick, to the Expos. In exchange, the Orioles received Ken Singleton and Mike Torrez. On that same day, the Expos also acquired left-handed pitcher Woodie Fryman from the Detroit Tigers, addressing a shortage of southpaw pitchers that had persisted for nearly the entire 1974 season.

McNally was chosen as the Expos’ Opening Day starting pitcher in 1975. On April 7, he held the St. Louis Cardinals to four runs (only two earned) through seven innings, leading Montreal to an 8–4 win. Over his first four starts of that season, he achieved a 3.19 ERA and secured victories in three games. On April 22, he pitched into the ninth inning against the Pirates, allowing three runs and earning his third win of the year. However, his performance declined afterward; in his last eight appearances, he lost six games and posted a 6.60 ERA. His final major league outing occurred on June 8 during the first game of a doubleheader against the San Diego Padres, when he surrendered five runs (four earned) over six innings. The following day, McNally announced his retirement. He explained his decision by stating: "I'm not throwing the [fastball]. I have no oomph on it, and there's no ray of hope that it'll get better. There's no chance I can do a decent job, and I'm not paid to do that." In total with Montreal during that season’s twelve starts, McNally recorded a 3–6 win-loss record with a 5.24 ERA. He struck out and walked 36 batters each while allowing 88 hits across 77+1⁄3 innings pitched. According to Expos announcer Jacques Doucet, acquiring McNally was the most "lopsided" trade for Montreal since Kirkpatrick never reached the majors and Coggins appeared in only thirteen games for the team.

1975 free agent labor dispute

McNally played a significant part in the landmark Template:Baseball year Seitz decision, a ruling that ultimately dismantled the reserve clause in Major League Baseball (MLB) and paved the way for the modern era of free agency. During 1975, McNally and Andy Messersmith were the only two players bound by the one-year reserve clause still in force. Neither athlete had signed a contract, yet both remained tied to their respective teams under this rule. They contested the clause and succeeded in securing free agency.

Although McNally retired in June 1975, he never intended to pursue free agency actively. In John Helyar's book The Lords of the Realm, it is noted that Marvin Miller, then executive director of the players' union, requested McNally to join the grievance opposing the reserve clause, to which McNally consented. Miller viewed McNally as a form of "insurance" should Messersmith opt to sign a new contract. To persuade McNally to withdraw from the grievance, MLB offered him a $25,000 signing bonus (equivalent to $Template:Inflation today) and a $125,000 contract (about $Template:Inflation today) with the Expos if he made the roster. McNally rejected these terms. MLB’s strategy hinged on Messersmith signing a contract as well, which would have nullified the challenge.

Marvin Miller confirmed this narrative in his 1991 autobiography, A Whole Different Ballgame. He clarified that while Messersmith was the principal figure in this legal test due to being at his career peak in 1975, Miller sought McNally’s participation because he anticipated Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley would sign Messersmith before binding arbitration could resolve the grievance. At that time, McNally, who had served as a Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) player representative during his tenure with the Orioles, was operating a Ford dealership in Billings when Miller reached out to him about joining Messersmith’s grievance. McNally agreed, ensuring that even if Messersmith signed a contract, the grievance process would continue. As Miller wryly observed, "McNally had been a starter for fourteen years, but the last act of his career was to serve in arbitration as a reliever."

Career Statistics

W	L	Winning Percentage (PCT)	Earned Run Average (ERA)	Games Played (G)	Games Started (GS)	Complete Games (CG)	Shutouts (SHO)	Batters Faced (BF)	Innings Pitched (IP)	Hits Allowed (H)	Runs Allowed (R)	Earned Runs (ER)	Home Runs Allowed (HR)	Strikeouts (K)	Walks (BB)	BB per 9 innings (BB/9)	Wild Pitches (WP)	Hit By Pitch (HBP)	Fielding Percentage (Fld%)	Batting Average (AVG)	Sacrifice Hits (SH)
184	119	.607	3.24	424	396	120	33	11229	2730	2488	1070	982	230	1512	826	2.7	59	72	.961	.133	58

Pitching style

McNally's arsenal consisted of the three fundamental pitches: a fastball, a curveball, and a slider. His command over the fastball was notably precise. Palmer commended his curve and slider, describing them as "an excellent curve and a devastating slider." Although McNally had experimented with the slider during his minor league tenure, he predominantly depended on his fastball and curveball until after a challenging 1967 season marked by injuries. In 1968, during bullpen sessions, he reintroduced the slider, impressing catcher Etchebarren, and subsequently incorporated it into his pitching repertoire for the remainder of his career. Weaver attributed McNally’s success to his strategic pitch mixing: "[McNally] executed with cleverness and sharp intellect. He liked to set you up with a changeup, deceive you with that exceptional curve, and then blow the fastball past you." Pitching coach Bamberger echoed this sentiment, stating, "Some pitchers may throw harder or possess better curves, but McNally's advantage lies in his mastery of how to utilize his pitches effectively." Powell recalled McNally’s brisk pace between deliveries: "It was 'Come on guys; let's finish this quickly; we've got other priorities.' He lacked overpowering velocity but was a master craftsman with the tools he had." Ken McMullen of the Angels, who faced McNally multiple times, praised his curveball as "exceptional" and noted its unpredictability during at-bats. Among McNally’s toughest opponents was Washington’s Frank Howard, who, alongside Willie Horton, was one of only two hitters to tally more than six home runs off him; Howard amassed 13 homers and hit .336 against McNally. Nevertheless, McNally consistently dominated Howard’s Senators team, securing 13 consecutive victories against them before their relocation to Texas following the 1971 season.

Personal life

Jean Hoffer, McNally's high school love, became his wife in 1961. Together, they raised five children: two sons named Jeff and Mike, and three daughters—Pam, Susan, and Anne. In 1966, the family acquired a residence in Lutherville, Maryland. During the baseball offseasons, McNally worked at the brewery owned by Jerry Hoffberger, the Orioles' proprietor. While finishing his final playing year with the Expos and shortly after retiring, McNally kept his family settled in Lutherville to allow his children to complete their academic year. In late June 1975, just prior to relocating, he was admitted to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore due to persistent chronic hiccups that had lasted nine days. These symptoms subsided after an additional three days.

Following his baseball career, McNally returned to Billings and partnered with his brother Jim in the automotive industry. He had purchased a car dealership in 1973 that Jim managed. Upon his return, Dave acquired a second dealership which he operated, eventually opening a third location as well. Speaking to author Maury Allen, he remarked, "I follow baseball casually, but I follow the automobile business more carefully." Golf was among his leisure pursuits; he maintained a golf handicap of eight. His son Jeff was selected by the Brewers in the 1980 high school draft but chose instead to pursue higher education at Stanford University rather than a professional baseball career. Diagnosed with both lung and prostate cancer in 1997, McNally survived for five more years before passing away in 2002.

Legacy

Alongside Palmer and Cuellar, McNally formed one of the most formidable starting pitching staffs in Orioles history throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. Weaver praised McNally as "an extraordinary competitor," also highlighting his admirable character. "He was completely gentlemanly. The kind of person you’d want your son to emulate," Weaver stated. Additionally, McNally and his wife Jean were godparents to Palmer's youngest daughter.

During his thirteen seasons with Baltimore, McNally secured a prominent place among franchise leaders across numerous pitching categories. His total of 181 wins stood as the Orioles' record upon his departure in 1974 and remains second only to Palmer's 268 victories. His career total of 33 shutouts ranks second behind Palmer’s 53. With 2652+2⁄3 innings pitched, he is second only to Palmer’s 3948 innings. In strikeouts, he holds third place with 1476 strikeouts trailing Palmer’s 2212 and Mike Mussina’s 1535. He is fourth in total games pitched at 412 and second in games started with 384 behind Palmer. Numerous single-season franchise records also feature McNally’s achievements: his 24 wins in 1970 tie for third-most; his 22 wins in '68 tie for ninth; his 202 strikeouts that same year rank seventh highest for an Oriole season; six shutouts in '72 tie for fourth-most; and his impressive 1.95 ERA in '68 is tied for ninth-lowest season ERA in franchise history alongside Bob Reynolds’ identical mark from 1973. Excluding players from before the team's relocation from St. Louis Browns in 1954, only Stu Miller’s ERA of 1.89 in ’65 is lower than McNally’s and Reynolds’ single-season ERA figures.

In recognition of his contributions, McNally was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1978. In addition, Sports Illustrated honored him as Montana's Athlete of the Century in 1999 and included him on the Orioles' All-Century team that same year. A Sports Illustrated poll conducted in 2004 asked Montanans to select the greatest athlete ever associated with their state; McNally ranked third with nine percent support behind Dave Dickenson (19%) and Jan Stenerud (18%).

References

• Palmer, Jim; Dale, Jim (1996). Palmer and Weaver: Together We Were Eleven Foot Nine. Kansas City: Andrews and McMeel. p. 8. ISBN 0-8362-0781-5.

External links

• Template:Find a Grave