Departures of note

Sam McDowell was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played 15 seasons from 1961 to 1975, spending 11 of them with the Cleveland Indians. Nicknamed "Sudden Sam" for his calm delivery and overpowering left-handed fastball, he was a six-time All-Star and led the American League in strikeouts five times, twice surpassing 300 in a season. He won the American League ERA title in 1965 with a 2.18 mark and was named AL Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News in 1970, finishing his career with a 141-134 record and a 3.17 ERA. He also pitched for the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, and Pittsburgh Pirates, and is a member of the Guardians Hall of Fame.

Alcohol abuse ended his playing career at age 32. After hitting bottom and losing his family and career, McDowell entered rehabilitation in 1978, returned to college, and became a licensed therapist specializing in sports psychology and addiction. He worked as an addiction and recovery consultant for the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers, earned a World Series ring with the 1993 Blue Jays, and served the Baseball Assistance Team from 1987 to 2016, turning his personal struggles into a second career helping others.