This is cross-posted over at Ballpark Banter.
I was born in the Northern Virginia suburbs of DC a few months after the Orioles won the 1983 World Series. In other words, I really missed out in terms of major league baseball growing up. Not only did Washington no longer have a team, but I had also just missed out on seeing the closest MLB team win the world series. That didn’t stop me from being a big baseball fan and I was absolutely thrilled when the O’s won the wild card in 1996 and the AL East in 1997. Even during their strong years in the mid 90’s, however, I remember hearing about the glory days in the late 70’s and early 80’s that included players like Mike Flanagan.
I bring this up because as I was watching the Nationals game last night, the news broke of Flanagan’s death and quickly made its rounds through the baseball world. Authorities still haven’t confirmed a cause of death, officials are reporting that his body was found outside his home in Sparks, MD at around 4:30 yesterday afternoon. I never met Flanagan and only saw him play in a few games, but even I was sad to hear the news given how he played for the team I cheered for growing up.
During his 18 seasons in the big leagues, Flanagan appeared in 526 games and amassed a 167-143 record with a 3.90 ERA. His best year with the club was when he won 23 games for the Orioles in 1979 and ended up receiving the American League Cy Young Award. Some of his teammates during that season pointed out that Flanagan wasn’t satisfied with the year because the O’s ended up losing the World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In a time when we have a lot of players moving from team to team and trying to rake up individual accolades in order to score a bigger contract, it’s touching to hear of a player who actually cared more about his team’s fate than his own individual awards.
As I watched the Orioles post game show last night, it was clear that Flanagan’s great sense of humor and commitment to his teammates had a big impact on other players and his coworkers at MASN. Throughout the show, broadcasters and former players alike had to fight back tears while talking about their friend. Jim Palmer, who pitched with Flanagan and later worked with him at MASN, for instance, chocked up as he said “we were family. It’s devastating.”
In an interesting twist of fate, the winning pitcher from the Orioles game last night (Jeremy Guthrie) actually wears Flanagan’s number 46. After the game, he tweeted "From day I was given #46 as Oriole, the fans always reminded me of the legacy Mike Flanagan left behind. This is a sad day for #Orioles family." He later added, “Mike Flanagan was an important person to me & touched the lives of countless people in the baseball family & especially in Baltimore. #RIP”
My favorite player growing up, Cal Ripken, Jr., put it very simply in a statement yesterday that I think truly represents how so many baseball fans in this area feel. “I am so sorry to hear about Mike’s passing,” the Iron Man said. “He was a good friend and teammate and our thoughts are with Alex and his family. Mike was an Oriole through and through and he will be sorely missed by family, friends and fans. This is a sad day.”
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