Former MLB pitcher Diego Segui passed away yesterday at the age of 87.
The Cuban born hurler spent 25 years in professional baseball beginning in 1958 when he was signed by the Cincinnati Redlegs.
He would not stay with the Redlegs long as he soon sold to the Kansas City A's organization. It would be the first of three stints with the A's organization in both K.C. and Oakland.
Segui made his MLB debut with the A's in 1962. By 1964, Segui would lead the AL in losses with 17. The A's were not a good club during their tenure in Kansas City but Segui was a durable pitcher who could work both as a starter and a reliever and eat innings.
Prior to the 1966 season, the A's sold Segui to the Washington Senators. But after one season in D.C., he was sent back to the A's where he would pitch two seasons - one with K.C. and the team's inaugural season in Oakland in 1968.
Following that season, Segui was selected in the expansion draft by the Seattle Pilots. Segui was a bright spot on a dismal team best known for being the subject of Jim Bouton's Ball Four. He would win a career high 12 games, earn 12 saves and post a respectable 3.35 ERA.
Before the Pilots departed Seattle to become the Milwaukee Brewers, Segui would be traded back to the A's for a third time. In 1970, Segui posted an ERA of 2.56 which was good enough to lead the league despite pitching primarily out of the bullpen.
For all of his time with the A's, Segui would not be a part of the A's dynasty which won three consecutive World Series between 1972 to 1974. During the 1972 season, Segui was sent packing to the St. Louis Cardinals where he worked exclusively out of the bullpen. In 1973, Segui posted a career high 17 saves for the Redbirds which was good enough for 7th in the NL.
The Cardinals rewarded Segui's efforts by trading him to the Boston Red Sox prior to the 1974 season in a six-player deal which saw starting pitchers John Curtis and Lynn McGlothen go to St. Louis. Again, Segui pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen in Boston. Segui was part of the 1975 AL championship Red Sox team and would pitch an inning of relief Game 5 of the World Series.
Prior to the start of the 1976 season, the Red Sox would release Segui. He would quickly sign a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres and spent the year pitching with the Triple AAA Hawaii Islanders in the Pacific Coast League under future Toronto Blue Jays manager Roy Hartsfield.
In 1977, Segui would return to Seattle as he was selected by the Mariners in the expansion draft. In fact, Segui was handed the ball in the very first game in Seattle Mariners history. Unfortunately, Segui only lasted 3.2 innings giving up 6 runs (4 of them earned) in a 7-0 loss against the California Angels as Frank Tanana threw a complete game 9-hit shutout.
Despite being affectionately nicknamed The Ancient Mariner, the 39-year-old Segui struggled. In 40 appearances (7 of them starts), Segui went 0-7 with a 5.69 ERA. It would prove to be his final MLB season. In 639 appearances (including 171 starts) spanning 15 seasons, Segui had a career record of 92-111 with a decent 3.81 ERA striking out 1298 batters in 1807.2 innings pitched against 765 walks. He also recorded 71 career saves. Despite finishing his career with a losing record, Segui proved a durable pitcher with an effective forkball.
Although his MLB career was over, Segui would continue to play professional baseball in the Mexican League through 1984 when he finally retired at the age of 46.
Segui's baseball legacy would continue with his son David who had a successful 15-year MLB career as a first baseman primarily with the Baltimore Orioles and stints with the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians.
The well-traveled Segui was puzzled as to why he couldn't stick with one club. In an interview with Boston sportswriter Cliff Keane prior to the 1974 season, Segui said:
I sit and wonder each time that I have been traded, have I done something wrong? Did I not get along with the people? Why don’t they like me, so that I have to go from one team to another so much? If you are confused about it, “he said, “you can say that I am more confused than anyone else.
It is one way to look at it. But another way to look at it is that everyone wanted Diego Segui to pitch for them. R.I.P.
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