Come Get Your License Plate Signed......

Upon reading syracusechiefs.com's blog entry for marketing last night, I was left utterly confused. Apparently on July 30th, former MVP, Cy Young award winner, and long time federal prison inmate, Denny McLain will be signing autographs at Alliance Bank Stadium. While I think we all appreciate things like autograph sessions and good promos, I think Chiefs management dropped the ball on this one. Yes, McLain was great on the field in his prime, however, his post career antics are shameful and repulsive.

McLain plead guilty to federal charges involving racketeering, extortion and narcotics in the 1980's. But that's not all. In the mid-1990's he was convicted of conspiracy, theft, money laundering and mail fraud. The first charge carried a twelve year sentence, but he only served 27 months and received five years probation. The second charge sentenced him behind bars for eight years, which he served more than six years of.

McLain had a few great seasons, including 1968 when he was the last pitcher to win 30+ games in the majors, and won the AL MVP and Cy Young. He had a share of the Cy Young in 1969, however, off field antics got him suspended three times in 1970, helping solidify the downfall of his career. He was suspended twice by the commissioner, once for bookmaking charges and another for waving a gun in a restaurant. Between those two suspensions, he was suspended by the Tigers for dumping water on reporters.

I am just trying to piece together why the Chiefs would bring him back (he did play in Syracuse in the mid 1960's) when there are so many good players they could have had return. McLain is about as far away from a role model as you can get, and apparently either the Syracuse Chiefs didn't do enough research or just didn't care about this fact. The man pitched two great seasons, but how can that or any on field greatness be a substitute for three decades marred with disregard for rules and laws?

Tell me management, is the next guy to sign at the stadium going to be Ugueth Urbina? Nothing would shock me now.