A native of Monroe, Louisiana, McGlothen graduated from Grambling High School in 1968. He then briefly attended Grambling State University. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1968. He pitched in part of two seasons for the Boston Red Sox. He had his first full season with the Cardinals in 1974, finishing 16–12 with a 2.70 ERA and an All-Star berth. He had 15 and 13 wins in 1975 and 1976, respectively, and was traded to the Giants for Ken Reitz on December 10, 1976.[1] On August 19, 1975, he struck out three batters on nine pitches in the second inning of a 2–1 win over the powerful Cincinnati Reds after yielding a single by Tony Perez to begin the inning.[2]
Hampered by a shoulder problem, McGlothen spent much of 1977 on the disabled list. He was sent from the Giants to the Cubs for Héctor Cruz at the trade deadline on June 15, 1978.[3] He won 13 for the Cubs in 1979 and 12 in 1980, but elbow problems limited him to six starts with the Cubs and White Sox the following year before closing out his career with the Yankees in 1982.
In an 11-season career, McGlothen posted an 86–93 record with 939 strikeouts and a 3.98 ERA in 1492.2 innings.
McGlothen was killed at age 34 in a mobile home fire in Dubach, Louisiana, in 1984.[4]
