Ex-Orioles pitcher Mike Flanagan found dead

Baltimore, MD – Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Mike Flanagan has been found dead on his property. He was 59.

Baltimore County police and fire spokeswoman Elise Armacost said police were called to the property in the 1500 block of York Road in Monkton for a person with a suspicious condition. It was later confirmed through the Orioles that the body was Flanagan's.

"It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of my friend Mike Flanagan earlier this evening," Orioles owner Peter Angelos said. "In over a quarter century with the organization, Flanny became an integral part of the Orioles family, for his accomplishments both on and off the field. His loss will be felt deeply and profoundly by all of us with the ballclub and by Orioles fans everywhere who admired him."

Armacost said the body was found on a trail outside the house.

Flanagan won the American League Cy Young Award in 1979 when he went 23-9 with a 3.08 ERA in his fifth major league season.

An All-Star in 1978, Flanagan started his major league career in 1975 with the Orioles and stayed with them until 1987 when he was traded to Toronto. He was signed back as a free agent with the O's prior to the 1991 season and retired in 1992 with an all-time mark of 167-143 with a 3.90 ERA in 526 games (404 starts).

Drafted in the seventh round in 1973 by the Orioles, Flanagan later joined the front office of the team. He served as a pitching coach in 1995 and '98 and was a broadcaster for the team and also spent time as the executive vice president of baseball operations.

During Baltimore's 1983 World Series championship campaign, Flanagan went 12-4 with a 3.30 ERA. He pitched in seven postseason games in his career, going 3-2 in those games.

Flanagan was part of Baltimore's vaunted '83 rotation that featured Scott McGregor, Storm Davis, Mike Boddicker and Dennis Martinez. Hall of Famer Jim Palmer was also on that team.