Phil Regan, who pitched for four major league teams over 13 years before spending five more decades in the game as a coach, manager and scout, died on Wednesday at age 89.
Regan died peacefully of natural causes, his attorney, Matthew Blit, told The Associated Press.
He was nicknamed ‘The Vulture’ by teammate Sandy Koufax, the legendary Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and Regan’s teammate, for his penchant for well-timed entries from the bullpen.
Regan was named an All-Star in 1966 in his first season with the Dodgers, where he went 14-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 65 games and a National League-most 21 saves.
Regan broke in with his home-state Detroit Tigers in 1960 and started 101 games over his first six years in the majors, before becoming a full-time reliever in the NL.
The right-hander moved onto the Chicago Cubs in 1968 until a 10-game stint with the Chicago White Sox in 1972 to finish his final major league season.
Phil Regan, a former MLB pitcher who coached for over 50 years, has died at the age of 89
Regan earned his ‘vulture’ nickname from the Los Angeles Dodgers great Sandy Koufax
But the native of Otsego, Michigan, made a bigger mark once he left the mound.
He built a rich resume that included nine years as the head baseball coach at Grand Valley State University, more than two decades of managing in the Dominican and Venezuelan winter leagues, and one season as manager of the Baltimore Orioles in 1995.
Regan was also the pitching coach for four different major league teams – Seattle, Cleveland, the Cubs and the New York Mets – and Team USA at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Regan succeeded Johnny Oates for the strike-shortened 1995 season with the Orioles, managing three future Hall of Fame players – Cal Ripken Jr., Mike Mussina and Harold Baines – while posting a 71-73 record. He was replaced by Davey Johnson after one year.
‘We are saddened by the passing of former Orioles manager Phil Regan,’ the Orioles said in a statement on Thursday night. ‘We extend our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.’
Lured out of retirement in 2009 by the Mets, Regan then spent seven years as pitching coach for Class A affiliate St. Lucie before moving into a role as minor league assistant pitching coordinator. He had a hand in the development of standouts like Jacob deGrom, Seth Lugo, Steven Matz, Paul Sewald and Noah Syndergaard as they moved through the farm system.
He was promoted to interim major league pitching coach midway through the 2019 season at age 82 to replace the fired Dave Eiland.
After serving three more years with the organization as a senior advisor of pitching development, Regan sued the Mets and then-general manager Brodie Van Wagenen for age discrimination and wrongful termination. The Mets hired Jeremy Hefner, who was 33 at the time, for the pitching coach job in 2020.
After his playing career came to an end, Regan spent over five decades in coaching
Regan had four children with his first wife, Carol, who died in 2004. He met his second wife, Lissette, while coaching in Venezuela.
‘His life was dedicated to the game and his family, especially the 18 grandkids that he just adored,’ Blit said.
‘There is so much about Phil here in the States, but what most people don´t know about is his impact in Venezuela. He coached for many years there and had the respect of so many of the Venezuelan players. But he would always say that his greatest reward from coaching in Venezuela was his wife.’
