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Show o SPORTS DETROIT'S DENNIS McLAIN: The Kooky Life of Baseball's Pitching Whiz Branded as a "flake," the cocky well on his way to the first By MERT SILBAR Dennis mclain, ace of the Detroit Tigers, and his wife Sharyn will celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary on Oct. 5, and Dennis has the day all planned for them. He figures the Tigers will clinch the American League pennant on Sept. 29 and start the World Scries on Oct. 1. "That means that I'll get to pitch and win the final game the fourth game on Oct. 5," he says matter of factly. "Then Sharyn and I will fly to New York for an ap- - season in 30-w- in 34 years and cocky" most of his life. And, according to most baseball people, a "flake" to boot. break last During the July, for instance, Denny borrowed a friend's Lear jet and, with Sharyn, flew to Las Vegas. After checking their luggage, Denny dragged Sharyn to the dice table. "She was a horrible shooter," he says, "but great with the slot machines." Denny played dice all Sunday night and well into Monday morning ("I did pretty well, which means I didn't lose"), then when he got a little tired, switched to blackjack. Monday afternoon, Denny and pearance on the Ed Sullivan show, then to Vegas on Oct. 8." Denny, a professional organist, will open with his "Denny McLain Group" in Las Vegas on Oct. 9, launching a winter mucical tour that will include Disneyland. Some people may think Denny is an ideal character for Disneyland and that he is too cocky, but then you have to remember that Denny has some right to be cocky. He may be the first player to win 30 games in one season since Diz?.y Dean last turned the trick in 1934. This brassy attitud; is not new; in fact, Denny has been "confident five-pie- is right-hand- er All-St- ce ar Sharyn hopped into the private jet and flew to Disneyland for a few hours before heading for Houston and the game itself. With a total of five hours sleep in three days, Denny pitched the fifth and sixth innings, shutting out the National League, showered, grabbed Sharyn, hopped back into the jet, and headed for Las Vegas again. Denny is not at all that "flaky" at home. He can usually be found in the living room in front of an organ, guzzling soft drinks (he drinks about a dozen a day), and batting out both classical and pop music. (His album, "Denny McLain at the Organ" has All-St- ar mm a "3 . '"v O j '4. r O Shown; Lift Tht Vintura. 31832 mk ctthmart calf; black, 2754 f Ml riOSMIIM IHOl COtl CHICAGO 0Ot (24.95. Right Tha VtNluRA. 31 127 taak cathmata calf; black, 21 103. $23.95. wtl Of IM Iixxt 0 MtK wol t Iikmi w minm iwia |