Phil Regan, a veteran of professional baseball who spent decades in the sport as a player, manager, and coach, died Wednesday according to ESPN. He was 89 years old.
The right-handed pitcher played 13 seasons in the major leagues with four different teams. He also managed the Baltimore Orioles during the strike-shortened 1995 season, finishing with a 71-73 record. Beyond managing, Regan worked as a pitching coach for four organizations and took on various other roles throughout his baseball career.
Regan’s most celebrated season came in 1966 while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he was named an All-Star. That year, he posted a 14-1 record with a 1.62 ERA and led the National League with 21 saves across 65 relief appearances. It was Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax who gave Regan the nickname “The Vulture,” a nod to the way Regan was constantly picking up relief wins.
Regan’s big league journey began with the Detroit Tigers in 1960. Over six seasons with the club, he won 10 or more games three times before being dealt to the Dodgers prior to the 1966 season.
A trade to the Chicago Cubs early in the 1968 season marked another strong chapter in his career, as he led all of Major League Baseball with 25 saves that year. He wrapped up his playing days in 1972, splitting that final season between the Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.
Over the course of his career, Regan appeared in 551 games — including 105 starts — and compiled a 96-81 record with a 3.84 ERA and 92 saves.
His coaching career took him to the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland (on two separate occasions), the Cubs, and the New York Mets. He stepped away from the game in 2019 following an interim role with the Mets. However, four years later he filed a lawsuit against the organization, alleging age discrimination and wrongful termination.
