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What: “Beyond the Glory.”

Where: Fox Sports Net, Sunday, 8 p.m.

Denny McLain’s story is well known, but it has never been told quite like this. For the first time on this series, the person featured is also the narrator.

McLain won 31 games in 1968, graced the cover of Time magazine and led the Detroit Tigers to a World Series title. But shady side businesses, family tragedies and gambling debts rocked McLain’s world, eventually landing him in prison twice.

He was sentenced to 23 years for a variety of convictions the first time, but his convictions were reversed after two years.

He later ended up back in prison, but now is out of prison and hoping to avoid pitfalls.

“Beyond the Glory” executive producer Frank Sinton decided to let McLain tell his story in his words, although there are interviews with others, such as with wife Sharon McLain and broadcaster Ernie Harwell.

“I’m not an altar boy,” McLain says, “and I’ve associated with some funny people, but I’m certainly not Al Capone.”

Harwell talks about McLain wanting to help Mickey Mantle move ahead of Jimmie Foxx on the all-time home run list in a 1968 game.

“Mantle came to the plate late in the game, and Jim Price, the substitute catcher for [Bill] Freehan, was behind the plate, and Denny called him out and said, ‘We’re going to let him hit one.’

“Jim came back and told Mantle, ‘He wants you to tell him where you want it. He’s going to groove it for you.’ ”

-- Larry Stewart