Lary Sorensen debuted in Milwaukee in 1977 as an eighth-round draft pick from the University of Michigan, rapidly ascending through the system to become a foundational arm in the Brewers' rotation.
After a strong rookie debut, Sorensen truly shone during the 1978 season. It was a remarkable year for him, finishing with an 18-12 record and a career-low 3.21 ERA. He ranked second in the American League for walks per nine innings with just 1.6, and came in fifth in complete games with 17. This season also brought him well-deserved recognition, as he was chosen for the All-Star team. During the game, he impressively retired nine straight National League hitters, including legends like Pete Rose and Joe Morgan, during his three innings of pitching.
Between 1979 and 1980, he was a mainstay in the rotation, with back-to-back seasons of at least 12 wins. He showed command of the strike zone, finishing in the top ten in BB/9 both years and leading with 24 complete games. His 'rubber arm’ enabled him to average over 230 innings per season during his peak.
In December of 1980, the Brewers finalized a massive seven-player blockbuster trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. Sorensen was the primary starting pitcher sent to St. Louis in exchange for a package that brought Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers and Ted Simmons, along with Pete Vuckovich, to Milwaukee. Sorensen was honored by the Wall of Fame and as a Brewer, and had a 52-46 record, a 3.74 ERA, and 50 complete games for the squad.
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