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MLB’s All-Star Pitcher ‘The Vulture’ Dead at 89

Phil Regan spent more than 70 years in baseball as a player, manager, coach, and scout.

Phil Regan, the former Major League Baseball pitcher known as “The Vulture,” has died at the age of 89. Regan died peacefully of natural causes on Wednesday, according to his attorney, Matthew Blit. The Michigan native enjoyed a 13-year big league career from 1960 to 1972, pitching for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox. His most memorable season came in 1966 with the Dodgers, when teammate Sandy Koufax gave him the nickname “The Vulture” for his knack of entering games at the right moment and picking off victories. That year, Regan earned his lone All-Star selection after posting a 14-1 record with a 1.62 ERA. Regan finished his playing career with a 96-81 record, a 3.84 ERA, and 92 saves across 551 games. But his impact on baseball continued long after he left the field. He coached, managed, and scouted for decades, including with the Baltimore Orioles in 1995 and as the New York Mets’ interim pitching coach in 2019 at age 82. His attorney said Regan’s life was devoted to baseball and family, noting that he especially cherished his 18 grandchildren.