Phil Regan
Philip Raymond Regan
(The Vulture)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 200 lb.
- School Western Michigan University
- High School Wayland (MI) High School
- Debut July 19, 1960
- Final Game July 15, 1972
- Born April 6, 1937 in Otsego, MI USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Phil Regan had a substantial 13-year career in the majors, with success both as a starter and as a reliever. As largely a starter with the 1960-1962 Detroit Tigers, he went 36-25. Regan was a starter with Detroit until he was traded at the 1965 winter meetings to the Los Angeles Dodgers. As primarily a reliever from 1966 on, he led the National League in saves twice, in 1966 and 1968.
He then earned the nickname "The Vulture" for his uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time to earn the victory during his 14-1, 1.62 breakthrough season as a relief pitcher for the Dodgers in 1966. He was an All-Star that year and a key reason why the Dodgers won the pennant.
In 1969 he pitched for the famous Chicago Cubs team that was traditionally said to have "choked", although Regan had 17 saves with a record of 12-6.
Regan was the baseball coach at Grand Valley State College from 1974 to 1982, with a cumulative 176-153 record. He then became a major league pitching coach working with the Seattle Mariners from 1984 to 1986, the Cleveland Indians in 1994 and 1999, and the Cubs in 1997 and 1998. Regan also had a stint as manager of the Baltimore Orioles in 1995.
He managed the 1996 Albuquerque Dukes and then coached for Team USA in the 2000 Olympics. Regan managed the West Michigan Whitecaps in his home state in 2002 and 2003.
In 2009-2015 he was the pitching coach for the St. Lucie Mets of the class A-Advanced Florida State League and then was named the Mets assistant minor league pitching coordinator. In a baffling move, on June 20, 2019, he was named interim pitching coach of the major league team at the age of 82 after the firing of Dave Eiland. His services were not retained for the following season, and three years later, in 2023, he sued the Mets and former General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen for age discrimination, claiming that his age was the only reason his contract was not renewed.
During a June 3, 2011 telecast, Al Hrabosky claimed that Regan - despite his religiosity - threw the "slippery elm."
Notable Achievements[edit]
- NL All-Star (1966)
- 2-time NL Reliever of the Year Award Winner (1966 & 1968)
- 1966 NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
- NL Winning Percentage Leader (1966)
- 2-time NL Saves Leader (1966 & 1968)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 1 (1963)
| Preceded by Johnny Oates |
Baltimore Orioles Manager 1995 |
Succeeded by Davey Johnson |
Year-By-Year Managerial Record[edit]
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Baltimore Orioles | American League | 71-73 | 3rd | Baltimore Orioles | |
| 1996 | Albuquerque Dukes | Pacific Coast League | 67-76 | 9th | Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| 2002 | West Michigan Whitecaps | Midwest League | 83-57 | 2nd | Detroit Tigers | Lost in 2nd round |
| 2003 | West Michigan Whitecaps | Midwest League | 67-73 | 9th | Detroit Tigers |
Further Reading[edit]
- Victoria Hernandez (USA Today): "Former Mets pitching coach Phil Regan sues team for age discrimination", Yahoo! News, February 21, 2023. [1]
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