Phil Regan, the longtime Major League Baseball pitcher and coach whose career spanned seven decades, died of natural causes on July 8, 2026. He was 89. Matthew Blit, his attorney, confirmed the death.
The Michigan native carved out a 13-season playing career between 1960 and 1972 with Detroit, Los Angeles, and both Chicago teams, finishing with a 96-81 record, a 3.84 ERA, and 92 saves across 551 appearances. His effectiveness shone brightest in relief work: he posted a 3.30 ERA as a reliever compared to 4.44 as a starter, racking up 58 wins over 446 career relief appearances.
From Starter to All-Star Reliever
Regan began his big league tenure with the Tigers in 1960, working primarily as a starter for his first six years and making 101 starts. After shifting to the National League, he converted to a full-time relief role that transformed his career. Teammate Sandy Koufax dubbed him “The Vulture” for his ability to swoop into games at just the right moment and claim the victory.
His breakout came in 1966 with the Dodgers, when he posted a 14-1 record with a 1.62 earned run average (ERA) over 65 games, leading the National League with 21 saves and earning his only All-Star selection. Regan later pitched for the Cubs starting in 1968 before closing out his playing days with a 10-game stint for the White Sox in 1972.
Five Decades of Coaching and Development
Regan’s post-playing career proved even longer and more varied than his time on the mound. He served as pitching coach for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Cubs, and New York Mets, and also coached Team USA at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. His coaching resume included nine years as head baseball coach at Grand Valley State University and more than two decades managing in winter leagues in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
In 1995, Regan managed the Baltimore Orioles for one season after succeeding Johnny Oates. He led a roster featuring three future Hall of Famers — Cal Ripken Jr., Mike Mussina, and Harold Baines — to a 71-73 record in a strike-shortened year before Davey Johnson took over.
The Mets brought Regan out of retirement in 2009 to serve as pitching coach for Single-A Port St. Lucie, a role he held through 2015. He played a key role in developing Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, and Zack Wheeler, along with Seth Lugo, Steven Matz, and Paul Sewald. At age 82 in 2019, he was elevated to interim major league pitching coach after the organization fired Dave Eiland.
Lawsuit Over Age Discrimination
After three years as senior advisor of pitching development, Regan was not retained following the 2019 season. The Mets hired Jeremy Hefner, who was 33 at the time, to fill the pitching coach role in 2020. In 2023, Regan sued the Mets, alleging age discrimination and wrongful termination. The lawsuit claimed former general manager Brodie Van Wagenen told Regan he would not return because he was “too old.”
A Life Defined by Baseball and Family
Regan and his first wife, Carol, raised four children together before her passing in 2004. He later met his second wife, Lissette, while coaching in Venezuela. Blit said Regan coached for many years in Venezuela and earned the respect of countless Venezuelan players, but that Regan always said his greatest reward from coaching there was his wife.
He is survived by 18 grandchildren.
Regan’s journey from Otsego, Michigan, through the major leagues and into coaching posts around the world represents a life wholly devoted to baseball. His career, stretching from the early 1960s through the 2019 season, stands among the most enduring in the sport’s modern history.
