RealGM

RIP, Mike Flanagan. You are and will remain so sorely missed.

http://www.masnsports.com/index_medialo ... d=707025&p

I met Mike Flanagan way back in the summer of 1978....I was a 17 year old kid living near Los Angeles.

Back then, I lived for Orioles baseball....It was before cable or satellite TV---Got to watch maybe 6 games a year...So, when the O's made their second west coast trip--I drove down to their hotel, and hung out by the lobby ( it was actually okay to do this back then-Hotel employees were cool with one fan hanging out )....The very first player to come into the lobby that morning was Mike Flanagan.... I asked for his autograph on his Topps 1978 card---He was Really nice, and seemed surprised someone recognized him...I told him he was pitching Great lately--he said the entire team was..and I agreed....Of course, the next season, he went on to win the Cy Young Award...He asked me where he could get the morning paper, I pointed to the hotel gift shop...I thanked him, and he thanked me...He seemed like a genuinely nice guy...I still have the card.

I also got to meet Eddie Murray, Ken Singleton, Mark Belanger, Jim Palmer, Jim Frey....Those days are long gone...But, THOSE Orioles were the Best...Super nice guys all of them.

R.I.P. Flanny.

Just happened to run across this video introducing the 1983 O's - it's great to the end - with a Dempsey classic. http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/schm ... e-flanagan

Too young to see him pitch, but I always enjoyed it when he was in the booth. A tragic, horrific way to go. Hopefully he's found peace.

its been confirmed that Flanagan died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Apparently he was troubled by fans who said the Orioles state of despair was due to him.