Steve McCatty never played for the Tigers, yet his strong Detroit roots nonetheless helped shaped the baseball journey of workhorse on the mound.

As with many 1960s Detroit kids, McCatty grew up rough and tough and was raised on the city’s baseball culture, admiring Tigers of the day like Al Kaline, Billy Horton, and Mickey Lolich while playing on local diamonds long before he was ever recruited to play college baseball.

From there, McCatty made the move out west and continued on to the Oakland Athletics for his Major League debut in 1977, which marked the beginning of a turbulent but exciting period in both his life and baseball as a whole.

It was a time that saw him break out of his shell as a pitcher under the brash guidance of Athletics manager Billy Martin, whose philosophy became lovingly referred to as “Billy Ball.”

Thanks to Martin, McCatty finished the 1981 season with 14 wins, but that was only the first chapter to a very prolific journey.

McCatty threw more than 220 innings in 22 starts in those early days, bringing a workload few could match even today – one that got him nominated second place in the Cy Young Award voting.

McCatty had a durable career from 1977 to 1985.

Although his prime was relatively short-lived and his heavy workload under Martin was often blamed for shortening out his effectiveness, he went over 1,000 innings and helped Oakland maintain rotation stability.

McCatty then retired as a player and became a coach, where his command of pitching mechanics and game strategy garnered him much in the way of respect.

He was most recently the pitching coach of the Washington Nationals (2009-2015), guiding a staff that included greats like Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, and Max Scherzer.

Under his guidance, the Nationals became known as one of the league’s best rotations, and the former MVP became a consummate communicator who melded old-school durability with modern analytics.

Though McCatty played and coached elsewhere, Detroit always considered him a prodigal son of the Motor City.

Look no further than his hard work, perseverance, and toughness – qualities most Detroiters strive for.

His success story illustrates how Detroit’s baseball culture extends well beyond the Tigers roster.

For Detroit, McCatty is a reminder that its influence on baseball stretches far beyond the Tiger Stadium, sometimes giving life to players and stewards of the game who take its lessons elsewhere.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: August 20, 2025