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By Kevin Rauch
New Hampshire Herald
New Hampshire Herald
The faculty, students, and alumni of Manchester
Memorial high school mourn the death of 1971
graduate and former MLB pitcher Mike Flanagan.
excelled in both baseball and basketball and led the
Crusaders to state titles in both sports in 1970 and
1971. He went on to attend the University of
Massachusetts Amherst from 1971 until 1975, setting
school pitching records and earning a degree in
education. From there, hitcher in the major leagues
from 1975 until 1992. Flanagan was found dead from
an apparent suicide on August 24.
He began his professional pitching career when the
Orioles drafted him in 1973, agreeing to finance the
remainder of his college education. He worked his way
through the Orioles’ farm system and began pitching
for the Orioles late in 1975. By the start of the 1977
season, he became a full-time starter for the team.
During this time, Flanagan played under Hall-of-Fame
Memorial high school mourn the death of 1971
graduate and former MLB pitcher Mike Flanagan.
excelled in both baseball and basketball and led the
Crusaders to state titles in both sports in 1970 and
1971. He went on to attend the University of
Massachusetts Amherst from 1971 until 1975, setting
school pitching records and earning a degree in
education. From there, hitcher in the major leagues
from 1975 until 1992. Flanagan was found dead from
an apparent suicide on August 24.
He began his professional pitching career when the
Orioles drafted him in 1973, agreeing to finance the
remainder of his college education. He worked his way
through the Orioles’ farm system and began pitching
for the Orioles late in 1975. By the start of the 1977
season, he became a full-time starter for the team.
During this time, Flanagan played under Hall-of-Fame
manager Earl Weaver and alongside Hall-of-Famer Jim Palmer. For the next ten years,
he was one of the most dominant pitchers on the team. In 1978, he was one of three
pitchers to defeat New York Yankees’ pitcher Ron Guidry, whose record for the season
was 25-3. Flanagan played in the All-Star game that year and went on to win the Cy
Young Award in 1979. He won a World Championship in 1983 and remained with the
Orioles until 1987, when he was traded mid season to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Flanagan finished strongly in 1987 and had mediocre seasons with the Blue Jays in 1988
and 1989. He was released early in the 1990 season but re-assigned with the Orioles as
a reliever in 1991. He pitched in their final season and game at Memorial Stadium and
returned to pitch at the brand-new Camden Yards in 1992. After retiring, he stayed active
with the Orioles, serving stints as a broadcaster, pitching coach, and later in the front
office as the Executive Vice-President of Baseball Operations (a.k.a. “General Manager).”
Peter Perich, Assistant Principal of Manchester Memorial High School, remembers Mike
Flanagan. “I graduated with him. He was a quiet but funny guy. He treated everyone
well. He definitely dominated – not only on the local high school level, but the whole state,
including Legion and the Babe Ruth league.
As a graduate of Memorial, he supported us when he was the Vice-President of baseball
operations. He would often give us four tickets to a 3-game series with the Red Sox. He’d
give us tours of the stadium and the press box. He gave us executive parking along with
the other Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Orioles. He made us feel, as a school,
that we were #1 in his eyes.”
Flanagan is also remembered by former teammate and current New York Yankees’
broadcaster Ken Singleton. Singleton, who played ten seasons with the Orioles from
1975-1984, was very emotional upon hearing of Flanagan’s death. Singleton referred to
Flanagan on air as a good friend. “He was a trusted teammate. You could talk to him
about anything. He was a gutty performer. You could depend on Mike to come through
with something witty, even in the toughest of times. He could always see the brighter side
of things. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case recently.” Singleton also reflected on many
more recent encounters with Flanagan as well as his living nearby. He again spoke fondly
of him during a live Yankee broadcast.
Ted Menswar, a retired English teacher who was the head coach of varsity baseball
during Mike Flanagan’s years, helped arrange a tribute to Mike Flanagan that was held in
the Manchester Memorial school auditorium on the afternoon of Saturday, September 17.
Many people came to pay tribute to Flanagan at this event when friends and family
members made touching speeches. Both of Mike Flanagan’s parents were at the event,
as well as many of his siblings and other relatives.
Timothy Flanagan, Mike’s brother, expressed appreciation and gratitude for the
overwhelming number of people who were touched by his life. At the end of the event, his
mother, Lorraine Flanagan, recalled how her son Mike also played guitar and was part of
a band. His music teacher once remarked to her that she didn’t know that he was also a
ballplayer.
Beverly Schaefer, a professional sports photographer, quoted at the end of the day that,
“Mike was a wonderful athlete and human being. He was intelligent, witty, and kind. I am
proud to say that Mike Flanagan was my friend. Everybody talks about what a wonderful
baseball player he was, but he was an even more wonderful human being. The world is a
lesser place with the death of Mike Flanagan.” She expressed how she had known
Flanagan for 32 years and last saw him in 2009.
he was one of the most dominant pitchers on the team. In 1978, he was one of three
pitchers to defeat New York Yankees’ pitcher Ron Guidry, whose record for the season
was 25-3. Flanagan played in the All-Star game that year and went on to win the Cy
Young Award in 1979. He won a World Championship in 1983 and remained with the
Orioles until 1987, when he was traded mid season to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Flanagan finished strongly in 1987 and had mediocre seasons with the Blue Jays in 1988
and 1989. He was released early in the 1990 season but re-assigned with the Orioles as
a reliever in 1991. He pitched in their final season and game at Memorial Stadium and
returned to pitch at the brand-new Camden Yards in 1992. After retiring, he stayed active
with the Orioles, serving stints as a broadcaster, pitching coach, and later in the front
office as the Executive Vice-President of Baseball Operations (a.k.a. “General Manager).”
Peter Perich, Assistant Principal of Manchester Memorial High School, remembers Mike
Flanagan. “I graduated with him. He was a quiet but funny guy. He treated everyone
well. He definitely dominated – not only on the local high school level, but the whole state,
including Legion and the Babe Ruth league.
As a graduate of Memorial, he supported us when he was the Vice-President of baseball
operations. He would often give us four tickets to a 3-game series with the Red Sox. He’d
give us tours of the stadium and the press box. He gave us executive parking along with
the other Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Orioles. He made us feel, as a school,
that we were #1 in his eyes.”
Flanagan is also remembered by former teammate and current New York Yankees’
broadcaster Ken Singleton. Singleton, who played ten seasons with the Orioles from
1975-1984, was very emotional upon hearing of Flanagan’s death. Singleton referred to
Flanagan on air as a good friend. “He was a trusted teammate. You could talk to him
about anything. He was a gutty performer. You could depend on Mike to come through
with something witty, even in the toughest of times. He could always see the brighter side
of things. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case recently.” Singleton also reflected on many
more recent encounters with Flanagan as well as his living nearby. He again spoke fondly
of him during a live Yankee broadcast.
Ted Menswar, a retired English teacher who was the head coach of varsity baseball
during Mike Flanagan’s years, helped arrange a tribute to Mike Flanagan that was held in
the Manchester Memorial school auditorium on the afternoon of Saturday, September 17.
Many people came to pay tribute to Flanagan at this event when friends and family
members made touching speeches. Both of Mike Flanagan’s parents were at the event,
as well as many of his siblings and other relatives.
Timothy Flanagan, Mike’s brother, expressed appreciation and gratitude for the
overwhelming number of people who were touched by his life. At the end of the event, his
mother, Lorraine Flanagan, recalled how her son Mike also played guitar and was part of
a band. His music teacher once remarked to her that she didn’t know that he was also a
ballplayer.
Beverly Schaefer, a professional sports photographer, quoted at the end of the day that,
“Mike was a wonderful athlete and human being. He was intelligent, witty, and kind. I am
proud to say that Mike Flanagan was my friend. Everybody talks about what a wonderful
baseball player he was, but he was an even more wonderful human being. The world is a
lesser place with the death of Mike Flanagan.” She expressed how she had known
Flanagan for 32 years and last saw him in 2009.
Mike Flanagan won the 1979 CY Young Award