Anyone who has been to Montana understands the state is huge and its small population is scattered across the state. Montana baseball took a hit with Minor League Baseball’s realignment as Billings and Missoula lost their affiliation. Both teams, and others, have since formed the independent Pioneer League. Baseball continues in Big Sky Country without a direct path to the Majors. 26 native Montanans have reached the Major Leagues. The greatest Montana born pitcher is Dave McNally. His 25.54 career WAR ranks 46th highest of all state and territory pitching leaders. The greatest position player from Montana is John Lowenstein. His 9.96 career WAR ranks 52nd highest of all state and territory. Lowenstein has the lowest WAR for a state leader in the Lower 48. Montana has a combined WAR of 35.50. Big Sky Country ranks 52nd, the worst of any state. 

Dave McNally lived his entire non-baseball life in Billings. He left his hometown to pursue baseball after signing for $80,000 with the Orioles in September 1960. The Lefthander pitched for 14 seasons with two teams: Baltimore Orioles (1962-1974) and Montreal Expos (1975). McNally pitched in 424 career Games, made 396 Starts, threw 120 Complete Games, including 33 Shutouts, Pitched 2,730 Innings, allowed 2,488 Hits, 1,070 Runs, 982 Earned Runs, 230 Home Runs, 826 Walks, 1,512 Strikeouts, posted a 184-119 record, with a 3.24 ERA, 1.214 WHIP, and 106 ERA+. He was a three time All Star and the first pitcher to earn more than $100,000 a season. McNally was one of four Orioles to win 20 games in 1971 and the first of the quartet to earn his 20th win. 

McNally pitched in five ALCS and four World Series. He pitched in 14 Postseason Games, made 12 Starts, threw 6 Complete Games, including 2 Shutouts, Pitched 90.1 Innings, allowed 65 Hits, 30 Runs, 25 Earned Runs, 12 Home Runs, 34 Walks, 65 Strikeouts, posted a 7-4 record, with a 2.49 ERA, and 1.096 WHIP. McNally helped Baltimore win the Fall Classic twice, 1966 and 1970. Manager Hank Bauer started the young lefty in Games 1 and 4 during the 1966 World Series. McNally is one of two pitchers to hit a World Series Home Run, with Bob Gibson, and the only to hit a Grand Slam. 

Unquestionably the best season of Dave McNally’s career was with the 1968 Orioles. He made 35 Starts, threw 18 Complete Games, including 5 Shutouts, Pitched 273 Innings, allowed 175 Hits, 67 Runs, 59 Earned Runs, 24 Home Runs, 55 Walks, 202 Strikeouts, posted a 22-10 record, with a 1.95 ERA, 0.842 WHIP, and 150 ERA+. He started the Year of the Pitcher 15-0, finally losing on August 3rd. McNally led the American League in WHIP and was the American League Comeback Player of the Year after an injury plagued 1967. Despite his success, McNally received no Cy Young votes and finished fifth in the MVP voting. He was great, but Denny McLain redefined baseball. 

After a trade to Montreal in a bid to restart his career, McNally walked away from baseball. He never filed for retirement and was officially considered an active player. The head of the Player’s Union, Marvin Miller, successfully used McNally and Andy Messersmith to challenge baseball’s reserve clause, ushering in free agency. McNally did not return to baseball after the ruling. He appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for four years, peaking at 2.8% in 1986. He was named to the Orioles All Century team and Montana’s Athlete of the Century by Sports Illustrated in 1999. Dave McNally helped grow baseball on and off the mound. 

John Lowenstein despised fan clubs. His hatred for them led to the creation of the Lowenstein Apathy Club, which fans reluctantly joined without much enthusiasm. A quirky guy capable of playing all over the diamond, Lowenstein was a true utility player. He was born in Wolf Point and moved to Southern California before high school. The Cleveland Indians selected him in the 18th round of the 1968 MLB Draft out of the University of California, Riverside. He played 16 seasons with three teams: Cleveland Indians (1970-1977), Texas Rangers (1978), and Baltimore Orioles (1979-1985). He was briefly a member of the expansion Toronto Blue Jays prior to the 1977 season, as he was traded to and from Canada during the offseason. Lowenstein played in 1,368 career Games, collected 881 Hits, 137 Doubles, 18 Triples, 116 Home Runs, 441 RBI, scored 510 Runs, 128 Stolen Bases, 446 Walks, 596 Strikeouts, with a .253 BA, .337 OBP, .403 SLG, .741 OPS, and 108 OPS+. 

While playing in Baltimore, Lowenstein platooned with Gary Roenicke in Left Field. Despite his part time play, Lowenstein enjoyed the best season of his career in 1982. He played in 122 Games, collected 103 Hits, including 15 Doubles, 2 Triples, 24 Home Runs, 66 RBI, scored 69 Runs, 7 Stolen Bases, 54 Walks, 59 Strikeouts, with a .320 BA, .415 OBP, .602 SLG, 1.017 OPS, and 176 OPS+. The Orioles finished one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the American League East title. 

Lowenstein played in two World Series, losing in 1979 and winning in 1983. In the Fall Classic, he played in 10 Games, collected 8 Hits, including 2 Doubles, 1 Home Run, 4 RBI, scored 4 Runs, 1 Walk, 6 Strikeouts, with a .308 BA, .333 OBP, .500 SLG, and .833 OPS. However, the peak of Lowenstein’s Postseason career was a 10th Inning Pinch Hit walk off three run Home Run in Game 1 of the 1979 ALCS against the California Angels. Memorial Stadium exploded into ecstasy as Lowenstein rounded the bases. 

Lowenstein retired after the Orioles released him in 1985 and began working as a broadcaster. He called games for the Orioles and the NBC Game of the Week. In 1991, Lowenstein appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot and received 0.2% of the vote. 

There are no Montanans in Cooperstown, hopefully this changes some day. Next week the United States of Baseball heads towards the middle of the country and the Cornhusker State. Nebraska is next. 

DJ