Rick Stelmaszek, R.I.P.

As it turns out Roy Halladay wasn't the only one lost to the baseball world.

Rick Stelmaszek, who served five different managers as a bullpen coach for the Minnesota Twins from 1981 to 2012, died yesterday following a near year long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 69.

After an undistinguished career as a catcher with the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers, California Angels and Chicago Cubs in the early 1970's, Stelmaszek joined the Twins organization as a minor league player in 1978 with the Single A Wisconsin Rapids which he would later manage until being promoted to the big league coaching staff.

His 32-year tenure as a coach is the third longest in MLB history. Only Manny Mota who served with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 33 years and Nick Altrock who served with the Washington Senators for 42 years remained with their organizations longer. Stelmaszek earned two World Series rings with the Twins in 1987 and 1991.

Nicknamed "Stelly", he threw out the first pitch at Target Field on Opening Day this past season. He would make his last public appearance during the summer when the team honored the 1987 World Series champion Twins. R.I.P.