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Dave McNally: The Montanan Who Revolutionized Baseball
What lies ahead for a boy growing up in Billings, Montana, in the 1950s, who lost his father during combat in World War II? Can he realize the dream of thousands of youngsters and become a major-league pitching star? And can he shape the sport for decades after his retirement and death?
Yes, he can. This is the true story of Dave McNally, who began playing baseball as a Little Leaguer in Billings, became an American Legion star, and then developed into a stalwart of the Baltimore Orioles' pitching staff. McNally won 184 games in the major leagues, 181 for the Orioles and three for the Montreal Expos. He won twenty or more games in four consecutive seasons. He remains the only pitcher to have hit a grand slam home run in World Series play. But off the pitching mound, McNally took a principled stand in 1975 that brought workplace fairness to baseball players and other professional athletes.
Veteran journalist Dennis Gaub, who spent most of his career in Billings, has written the first biography of an unassuming man from Middle America. It will inspire you—and maybe the book will get you thinking about actions you could take to better your world or community, even if you're not a star athlete.
Reading about McNally will give you renewed optimism. You’ll gain or regain a belief that a better future is possible for you, if you have a vision for achieving it through realistic steps you can take now.
Yes, he can. This is the true story of Dave McNally, who began playing baseball as a Little Leaguer in Billings, became an American Legion star, and then developed into a stalwart of the Baltimore Orioles' pitching staff. McNally won 184 games in the major leagues, 181 for the Orioles and three for the Montreal Expos. He won twenty or more games in four consecutive seasons. He remains the only pitcher to have hit a grand slam home run in World Series play. But off the pitching mound, McNally took a principled stand in 1975 that brought workplace fairness to baseball players and other professional athletes.
Veteran journalist Dennis Gaub, who spent most of his career in Billings, has written the first biography of an unassuming man from Middle America. It will inspire you—and maybe the book will get you thinking about actions you could take to better your world or community, even if you're not a star athlete.
Reading about McNally will give you renewed optimism. You’ll gain or regain a belief that a better future is possible for you, if you have a vision for achieving it through realistic steps you can take now.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 6, 2026
There is an old saying along the lines of someone is “making too much soup from one oyster.” And this book appears to be a classic example of it. There is lots of good writing here, just not enough for an entire book (or at least a book of this length.) Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.
For younger fans of baseball who do not remember the days before free agency, this book shines a light on a very different time when major leaguers routinely had to have jobs in the offseason, and the pay a journeyman makes in the current MLB would be unimaginable even to major stars. The author Dennis Gaub does a good job or keeping this in the forefront of the readers mind. When relating the significant times and events of Dave McNally’s career he does not omit the fact that McNally frequently held out at the start of the season because that was his only tool to negotiate a better salary. He also notes the other players around McNally who had to do the same. It is pretty shocking looking back from the current day to realize players of McNally’s caliber (as well as Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer) were reduced to essentially groveling for pay raises.
This background is important as Gaub’s stated reason for writing the book is not just McNally’s successful career, but for his roll in striking down the reserve clause and paving the way for Curt Flood and free agency. Sadly when the narrative reaches that point the is very little to say. McNally’s contribution, while important, was fairly limited. Once he agreed to have his name appended to the suit, his only role was to refuse the absurdly transparent attempts of the Montreal Expos front office to derail the suit by offering him a contract. (A contract that was more lucrative than the organizations had offered him when he was still playing.)
If you are a fan like me desperate to rehear classic stories about the Orioles, go ahead and give the book a try. You will finish feeling like you know Dave McNally a little better. If you are not, don’t bother.
This background is important as Gaub’s stated reason for writing the book is not just McNally’s successful career, but for his roll in striking down the reserve clause and paving the way for Curt Flood and free agency. Sadly when the narrative reaches that point the is very little to say. McNally’s contribution, while important, was fairly limited. Once he agreed to have his name appended to the suit, his only role was to refuse the absurdly transparent attempts of the Montreal Expos front office to derail the suit by offering him a contract. (A contract that was more lucrative than the organizations had offered him when he was still playing.)
If you are a fan like me desperate to rehear classic stories about the Orioles, go ahead and give the book a try. You will finish feeling like you know Dave McNally a little better. If you are not, don’t bother.
January 5, 2026
Fun book about a wonderful player
I discovered this little gem of a book about a somewhat forgotten star on a team I idolized as a kid. Dave McNally wasn’t the first star you thought of on those late 60/early 70s Orioles teams, but was a solid, dependable pitcher. I loved that there is a well written bio of his life and career. I recommend this book as an easy read for any baseball fan.
I discovered this little gem of a book about a somewhat forgotten star on a team I idolized as a kid. Dave McNally wasn’t the first star you thought of on those late 60/early 70s Orioles teams, but was a solid, dependable pitcher. I loved that there is a well written bio of his life and career. I recommend this book as an easy read for any baseball fan.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews