Samuel Edward Thomas McDowell (born September 21, 1942 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), is an American former professional baseball player.
He played in Major League Baseball as a starting pitcher from 1961 to 1975, most notably for the Cleveland Indians.
A six-time All-Star, McDowell led the American League in strikeouts five times.
Tall (6 feet, 5 inches) and powerful, his left-handed fastball was delivered with an unusually calm pitching motion which led to his memorable nickname, Sudden Sam.