Walter Cronkite on Denny McLain before SI Article comes out detailing his activites with gamblers

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Originally aired February 17, 1970, this clip features coverage of Denny McLain, pitcher of the Detroit Tigers. This story covers the news of an impending article in Sports Illustrated regarding alleged activities of McLain consorting with gamblers.

At the time this story broke, McLain was the two-time reigning Cy Young award winner and less than two years removed from his 31 win season in 1968. He had been on Ed Sullivan and the Smother Brothers Show in an era when there were only three networks. Denny was a pop culture sensation (albeit briefly) in a time before it was even called that.

This story would change everything. McLain would be suspended twice that season and never regained the magic. Cortisone shots and arm troubles prematurely ended his baseball career. But for a short period, Denny was one of the most well recognized names in the game. A mention on a national news broadcast underlines that.

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