In news that has shocked everyone, we received the news that former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Mike Flanagan was found dead outside his Maryland home tonight. He was 59.
Flanagan came to the Orioles in 1973, drafted by the organization as a pitcher and came to the parent club in 1976, was a key member of the O’s American League Championship team, won the Cy Young Award in 1979 with a 23-9 record and won a World Series ring in 1983. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1987, but later returned to the O’s and recorded the very last out in Memorial Stadium in 1991. He retired in 1992.
Flanagan stayed with the Orioles organization becoming a pitching coach, broadcaster, Executive Vice President and returning to broadcasting O’s games on MASN last season.
During tonight’s MASN postgame show, Orioles analyst Jim Palmer and close friend to Flanagan, tried to sum up in words his emotions to host Amber Theoharis and MASN personality Tom Davis.
Justin Fenton and Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun report that police are investigating Flanagan’s death and have yet to confirm a cause of death.
WBAL-TV reports that Flanagan had a false perception that fans blamed him for the team’s recent failures.
The Houston Chronicle’s Richard Justice who covered the Orioles back in the 1980’s provides some of his favorite Flanagan stories.
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal also provides his thoughts on Flanagan’s life.
There will be more stories in the days ahead on Mike Flanagan. While WBAL and WNST.net are reporting a cause of death, I will not post one until I read police confirmation. Suffice to say that the death is tragic as Flanagan is survived by his wife and three daughters.
