​Phil Regan, whose long and varied MLB career stretched across seven decades as a player, coach, and manager, died on July 8, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. He was 89 years old.
Regan spent 13 seasons in the big leagues, pitching for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox. He earned his lone All-Star selection in 1966, a standout season in which he posted a 14-1 record with a 1.62 earned run average and saved 21 games for the Dodgers. Teammate Sandy Koufax gave Regan the nickname “The Vulture” that year, acknowledging his ability to secure wins in late-inning situations. Though he never started a game in 1966, Regan logged 116.2 innings in relief. In today’s game, a reliever rarely reaches 100 innings in a season, but Regan accomplished that feat four separate times over the course of his career.
Regan contributed to two relief appearances for the Dodgers in the 1966 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles. His later connection to Baltimore would come as a manager, as Regan led the Orioles to a 71-73 record in the 1995 season, his lone major league managerial tenure.
When he retired as a player after the 1972 season, Regan left behind a cumulative stat line of 96 wins, 92 saves, and 743 strikeouts. His professional imprint extended far beyond his playing days, as he spent 48 years coaching in various roles across the sport.
From 1974 to 1982, Regan was the head coach at Grand Valley State College, where his teams compiled a 176-153 record. He then transitioned to the major leagues as a pitching coach, lending his expertise to the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets. In June 2019, at the age of 82, Regan stepped in as the Mets’ pitching coach as a midseason replacement after Dave Eiland was fired.
Regan’s death marks the passing of a baseball lifer who left a lasting imprint on multiple facets of the game. His influence spanned decades and roles, from a late-inning standout on the mound to a mentor and strategist behind the scenes. More details will emerge as the baseball community processes this loss and honors a figure whose contributions touched players, teams, and fans alike.