Phil Regan, a former All-Star pitcher who spent decades in Major League Baseball as a coach and briefly as a manager, has died at age 89.
Regan died Wednesday, ESPN reported, citing Regan family attorney Matt Blit.
Former Mets pitching coach Phil Regan has passed away at age 89, per @JeffPassan
RIP 🙏 pic.twitter.com/eujWzdX20n
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) July 8, 2026
A Vulture Who Flourished Late
Regan broke into the big leagues with the Detroit Tigers in 1960 and threw for four clubs over 13 seasons.
He later pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.
His signature season came in 1966 when he was 14-1 with a 1.62 ERA and led the National League with 21 saves for the pennant-winning Dodgers.
That performance was enough for his only All-Star selection, as well as both the Sporting News NL Reliever of the Year and NL Comeback Player of the Year awards.
His penchant of picking up wins in relief earned him the nickname “The Vulture” from teammate Sandy Koufax.
Two years later, in a split between the Dodgers and Cubs, Regan again topped all of baseball with 27 saves.
He retired after the 1972 season with a 96-81 record, a 3.84 ERA and 92 saves.
More Than A Player
Regan’s baseball life didn’t end with his career as a player.
He began coaching in 1974 at Grand Valley State College and later had major league coaching jobs with Seattle, Cleveland and the Cubs.
He was hired as the Baltimore Orioles manager for the 1995 season and guided the club to a 71-73 record.
He would go on to serve in the New York Mets organization as a minor league pitching coordinator.
He was chosen the team’s temporary pitching coach in 2019 at the age of 82.
Regan spent nearly seven decades in professional baseball as a player, coach and manager.
