The impact of the Cy Young winner's death was immediately visible on MASN Wednesday night following the Orioles victory over the Minnesota Twins. Jim Palmer, the game's broadcaster and Flanagan's former teammate, called the evening's game despite having learned of his friend's death.
But following the game, Palmer cried during the post-game broadcastas he reflected on Flanagan's career.
As first reported by WBAL-TV, police found Flanagan's body shortly before 4:30 p.m. outside Flanagan's Sparks home in the 15000 block of York Road.
Orioles coach Buck Showalter said during his post-game press conference that the team learned of Flanagan's death during the game.
The winning pitcher Wednesday night, Jeremy Guthrie, wears Flanagan's number, 46. Guthrie tweeted Wednesday night: "From day I was given #46 as Oriole, the fans always reminded me of the legacy Mike Flanagan left behind.This is a sad day for #Orioles family."
Orioles owner Peter Angelos released this statement Wednesday night:
Bill Stetka, a longtime public relations manager for the Orioles, told Patch in an interview that Flanagan "bled black and orange."
Bagli recalled Flanagan's stellar 1979 season, calling him, "one of the outstanding left-handers" in Orioles history.
Flanagan appeared in 526 games in 18 seasons, going 167-143 with a 3.90 ERA. He won 23 games for the Orioles in 1979, winning the American League Cy Young Award, voted on by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America as the best pitcher in the league.
Flanagan was named vice president for baseball operations on Dec. 4, 2002, working alongside Jim Beattie. Flanagan was born in Manchester, NH on Dec. 16, 1951. Flanagan lived in Sparks with his wife, Alex, and three daughters—Kerry, Kathryn and Kendall.
Mike Flanagan, whose career with the Baltimore Orioles included a Cy Young Award and World Series championship as a pitcher, and stints as a coach, executive and broadcaster, was found dead at his Maryland home on Wednesday.
Flanagan's death was first reported by WBAL-TV in Baltimore and later confirmed by the Baltimore Sun, citing law enforcement or club sources.
Orioles Managing Partner Peter Angelos issued the following statement regarding Flanagan's death: "It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of my friend Mike Flanagan earlier this evening. "It's just shock right now," said former Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey. We had so many great games and so many great times. Flanagan pitched for 18 seasons with the Orioles (1975-87 and 1991-92) and the Toronto Blue Jays (1988-90). In 1983, he went 12-4 for the World Series champion Orioles. Flanagan had a career record of 167-143 and a 3.90 ERA.
After he retired in 1992, Flanagan served two stints as Orioles pitching coach and was the Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations. He and Jim Duquette shared general manager responsibilities for a time, but Flanagan's front-office influence lessened with the 2007 hiring of Andy MacPhail as president of baseball operations.
In 2010, Flanagan was hired by Mid-Atlantic Sports Network to work as a color analyst on Orioles telecasts.
Palmer, a Hall of Famer who played with Flanagan for 10 years, could not hold back tears on air when MASN confirmed Flanagan's death after the game.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the team learned of Flanagan's death during the game. Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. said in a statement that Flanagan "was an Oriole through and through. Though Flanagan spent parts of four seasons with the Blue Jays, he finished his career pitching two more seasons with the Orioles, re-casting himself as a successful left-handed reliever. I'd like to pitch in the last game. The news of Mike Flanagan's death knocked the wind out of us. I've often retold the story of how Flanagan kept denying rumors that the Orioles were going to trade for Sammy Sosa before the 2005 season. The next day, the Orioles traded for Sosa.
There was no difference between Flanny as a player and a pitching coach.