Diego Segui, a 15-year journeyman pitcher in the major leagues who made his mark in Seattle baseball history, has died. He was 87.
The death of Segui, a native of Cuba, was announced Tuesday on social media by Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox issued statements on Wednesday. No additional details were provided.
“Heartbroken about the news of the passing of my dear friend, and former @MLB pitcher, Diego Segui,” Kendrick wrote on X. “He was 87. We honored Diego last November with our Negro Leagues Beisbol Lifetime Achievement Award. Sending thoughts and prayers to the Segui family.”
The right-hander is the only player to have played for both Seattle franchises in MLB history, the Pilots in 1969 — when he was named team MVP — and the Mariners in 1977. The Pilots became the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970.
Segui, who threw the first pitch in the inaugural games for both Seattle teams, was nicknamed “The Ancient Mariner” as a 40-year-old for his second tour.
“The Mariners were saddened to learn of the passing of Diego Segui,” said Mariners President of Business Operations Kevin Martinez in a statement. “A Seattle baseball original, Diego famously appeared in both the first game in franchise history for the Seattle Pilots on April 8, 1969 at the California Angels and was starting pitcher in the first game in Seattle Mariners history on April 6, 1977 in the Kingdome vs. the Angels.
“Our thoughts are with the Segui family, including David, Diego’s son, who the Mariners know well from his time with us in 1998 and 1999. Diego was always generous with his time, visiting us in Seattle to help us celebrate milestones, including his last trip here for Hispanic Heritage Day in 2012.
“I also have fond memories of Diego’s grandson Cory throwing the final pitch in Kingdome history, a fitting finale for the Kingdome after Diego’s historic first pitch.”
Diego Segui pitched for 15 seasons for the Kansas City Athletics (1962-65, 1967), Washington Senators (1966), Oakland Athletics (1968, 1970-72), Seattle Pilots (1969), St. Louis Cardinals (1972-73), Boston Red Sox (1974-75) and Seattle Mariners (1977).
His career record is 92-111 with 71 saves, a 3.81 ERA, 786 walks and 1,298 strikeouts in 1,807 2/3 innings in 639 regular-season games (171 starts). He led the American League with a 2.56 ERA in 1970, when he pitched 162 innings over 47 games (19 starts) for Oakland.
He appeared in the American League Championship Series with Oakland in 1971 and pitched one perfect inning for Boston in the 1975 World Series.
Segui didn’t retire from baseball after his MLB career, pitching in the Mexican Professional League until 1984. He was inducted into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in 2006.
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s lifetime achievement award was given in November 2024.
His son, David Segui, was a first baseman and outfielder who played from 1990-2004 for seven major league teams.
–Field Level Media
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