Remembering Mike Flanagan and the 10 Greatest Baltimore Orioles Pitchers Ever

The Baltimore Orioles have certainly had their share of great players since the franchise moved from St. Louis following the 1953 season. Hall of Fame players such as Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken have served the team with distinction over the years.

However, several other Oriole greats have also made their mark in the city, and one of them is being remembered today—former starting pitcher Mike Flanagan.

Flanagan was found dead outside his home on Wednesday afternoon in Baltimore County, MD. Flanagan was 59 years of age.

While many Oriole greats went on to help the organization in various ways after their retirement, there may have been no one who represented the Orioles in more capacities than Flanagan. After his retirement in 1992, Flanagan served as the team's pitching coach, general manager, roving pitching instructor, and even as a broadcaster.

In a statement released by the team, owner Peter Angelos said:

"It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of my friend Mike Flanagan. 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. On behalf of the club, I extend my condolences to his wife Alex and daughters Kerry, Kathryn and Kendall."

In honor of Flanagan, Bleacher Report will take a look at Flanagan's career over the years, and then take a look at Flanagan's place all-time among Baltimore Orioles starting pitchers.

Mike Flanagan and His First Years in Baltimore

When young Mike Flanagan was growing up in Manchester, NH, he was a two-sport star, excelling in both baseball and basketball.

After once attempting to guard teammate Julius Erving while at the University of Massachusetts, Flanagan decided that baseball would be his primary sport. He excelled to the point that the Baltimore Orioles took notice, drafting Flanagan in the seventh round of the 1973 MLB Draft.

Flanagan quickly moved through the minor league ranks, making his debut with the Orioles in September 1975.

Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, who pitched alongside Flanagan for 11 seasons, fondly remembers Flanagan's early days as an Oriole, especially in 1977, Flanagan's first season as a full-time starter.

"He was something like 2-9 that year," recalled Orioles Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer. "Earl Weaver, the Orioles Hall of Fame manager, told the press that Flanagan was destined to be a winner. He really didn't mean it. but he wanted to help Flanagan along."

Flanagan would go on to win 15 games that year, finishing the year with six straight wins. He would win 19 games the following season as well.

Photo courtesy Manchester Union Leader

Mike Flanagan and His Cy Young Award Season in 1979

By the time the 1979 season rolled around, Mike Flanagan was established in his role as a starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, having won 19 games in the previous year.

However, Flanagan put together a magical season in '79, posting a record of 23-9, an ERA of 3.08, 16 complete games, five shutouts and ultimately winning the Cy Young Award.

The Orioles would go on to win the American League pennant, and Flanagan delivered for the Orioles in Game 1 of the World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching a complete game in a 5-4 victory.

Flanagan pitched six quality innings in Game 5, allowing just two runs on six hits, however Flanagan was saddled with the loss, and the O's would eventually lose the series in a seven-game thriller.

Photo courtesy hamptonroads.com

Mike Flanagan Gets World Series Ring on Second Attempt

Four years after the Orioles' disappointing loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1979 World Series, Mike Flanagan would get a second shot at a ring, after posting a 12-4 record and 3.30 ERA in 20 starts.

Flanagan only made one appearance in the '83 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, but his teammates carried the day, winning in five games and giving Flanagan his lone championship ring.

Photo courtesy oriolesnumbers.com

Mike Flanagan's Return to Baltimore and Eventual Retirement

In a waiver trade deadline deal on August 31, 1987, Flanagan was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitchers Oswaldo Peraza and José Mesa. Flanagan would pitch for the Blue Jays until the end of the 1990 season, posting a 26-27 record with a 3.94 ERA in 76 appearances, all of them starts.

Flanagan returned to the Orioles in 1991 to finish out his career, and pitched in the final game ever played at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 6. Flanagan retired at the end of the 1992 season, compiling a record of 167-143, with 141 wins coming in an Orioles uniform.

Photo courtesy bilalaliproductions.com

Mike Flanagan Dons Many Hats in Orioles Organization After End of Playing Career

After Mike Flanagan retired following the 1992 season, his career in Baltimore was far from over.

Over the next 19 years, Flanagan would serve as Orioles' pitching coach on two separate occasions, as their executive vice president of baseball operations, and as a broadcaster for the team from 1996–1997 and from 1999-2002.

At the time of his death, Flanagan was once again calling Orioles games for MASN, splitting analyst duties with former teammate Jim Palmer.

Photo courtesy wcbm.com

Where Does Mike Flanagan Rank Among the Greatest Orioles Pitchers of All-Time

With 141 career victories in a Orioles uniform and one Cy Young Award to his credit, Mike Flanagan certainly has earned his spot among the great Orioles pitchers of all-time.

But just where does he rank? Bleacher Report will take a look at the 10 greatest pitchers in Baltimore Orioles history.

10. Dennis Martinez, 1976-1986

Former starting pitcher Dennis Martinez, fondly nicknamed "El Presidente," spent the first ten-plus seasons of his career with the Baltimore Orioles, helping the O's to an American League pennant in 1979 and a World Series title in 1983.

After winning 108 games with the O's, Martinez was dealt to the Montreal Expos in June 1986, where Martinez would revive his career and win another 100 games, including a perfect game in 1991.

Martinez finally called it quits in 1998 after a 23-year career.

9. Milt Pappas, 1957-1965

Starting pitcher Milt Pappas was signed as a free agent by the Baltimore Orioles in 1957 as an 18-year-old, and he made his debut later on that season.

Pappas would win 110 games in an Orioles uniform, posting two consecutive 16-win seasons in 1963 and 1964.

Pappas was traded by the Orioles in December 1965 to the Cincinnati Reds along with two other players for Hall of Fame right fielder Frank Robinson. The trade would be considered one of the most lopsided in history, as the Orioles would win the World Series the following year, with Robinson winning the AL MVP and becoming the second-to-last player to register a Triple Crown (Carl Yastrzemski was the last in 1967).

Photo courtesy camdenchat.com

8. Steve Stone, 1979-1981

Although right-handed pitcher Steve Stone only played for three seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, he certainly left his mark.

After posting an 11-7 season in 1979 and making a World Series, Stone reigned supreme in the 1980 season. Posting a record of 25-7 with a 3.23 ERA, Stone was the easy winner of the American League Cy Young Award.

The season ended up taking its toll on Stone, however. After switching to a heavy mix of curveballs to attain his success in 1980, Stone suffered through the following season with tendinitis, posting a record of 4-7 and forcing his retirement from baseball at the age of 34.

7. Urban Shocker, 1918-1924

After pitching his first two seasons with the New York Yankees, right-hander Urban Shocker was dealt to the St. Louis Browns in January 1918.

For the next seven seasons, Shocker would establish himself as one of the better pitchers in the American League, posting four consecutive 20-win seasons between 1920-23, and leading the AL with 27 wins in 1921.

Shocker would win 126 games for the Browns before being dealt back to the New York Yankees in December 1924.

6. Scott McGregor, 1976-1988

In playing his entire 13-year career with the Baltimore Orioles, left-handed pitcher Scott McGregor will forever be fondly remembered for his heroics in the postseason.

McGregor's complete game shutout in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the California Angels catapulted the Orioles to the AL pennant and a berth in the World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Four years later, after a stinging seven-game loss to the Pirates in the World Series, the Orioles were back, this time facing the Philadelphia Phillies.

In Game 5, McGregor again delivered a complete game shutout, leading the Orioles to victory and their first World Series championship in 13 years.

Over his career, McGregor won a total of 138 games for the O's, including a 20-win season in 1980.

5. Mike Flanagan, 1975-1987, 1991-1992

A Cy Young Award-winning season in 1979, 141 total victories and a fantastic presence in the clubhouse, Mike Flanagan clearly stated his case as one of the elite starting pitchers in Baltimore Orioles history.

It's a good thing that Julius Erving was around back in the mid-1970s to convince Flanagan that baseball was the right choice for him.

4. Mike Cuellar, 1969-1976

Left-handed pitcher Mike Cuellar was not considered to be a difference maker when he was obtained by the Baltimore Orioles in 1968 from the Houston Astros. A 32-year-old junkball pitcher, Cuellar was thought to be past his prime.

Instead, Cuellar became the anchor of an Orioles' staff that won three straight American League pennants, winning the Cy Young award in 1969 and was the winning pitcher in the deciding game of the 1970 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Cuellar was also one of the four pitchers to win 20 games for the Orioles in 1971, along with Jim Palmer, Dave McNally and Pat Dobson, the last time that feat has ever been accomplished.

3. Mike Mussina, 1991-2000

During the decade of the 1990s, Mike Mussina was the ace of the Baltimore Orioles' pitching staff, winning 19 games twice in a season and 18 games twice as well.

Mussina was outstanding in the 1997 playoffs, beating the Seattle Mariners twice in the ALDS, and starting two games against the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS, posting a 0.60 ERA in two starts.

Mussina left following the 2000 season after winning 147 games in an Orioles uniform.

2. Dave McNally, 1962-1974

In a 14-year career, 13 of them with the Baltimore Orioles, southpaw Dave McNally used a dazzling display of pitches to constantly befuddle hitters, posting four consecutive 20-win seasons between 1968-1971.

McNally pitched in four World Series for the Orioles, with record of 4-2 and a 2.34 ERA, including one victory in the 1970 World Series, culminating in McNally's only championship ring.

McNally retired after posting 181 victories as a member of the Orioles.

1. Jim Palmer, 1965-1984

Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer holds just about every pitching record imaginable for the Baltimore Orioles. During his 20-year career, all with the O's, Palmer was 268-152 with a career 2.86 ERA, winner of three Cy Young Awards (1973, 1975, 1976), and finished in the top five in Cy Young Award balloting five other times.

Palmer was even better in the postseason, pitching in six World Series and helping the O's win it all in 1966 and 1970.

Palmer was working with Mike Flanagan as an analyst for Orioles games on MASN when Flanagan passed away on Wednesday afternoon.