Phil Regan, a former Major League Baseball pitcher and longtime coach known for his extensive contributions to the game over several decades, died peacefully of natural causes on Wednesday at the age of 89, his attorney Matthew Blit confirmed.

Regan’s playing career spanned 13 seasons, during which he pitched for four major league teams. He debuted with the Detroit Tigers in 1960 and spent the first six years primarily as a starter before transitioning to a relief role. He earned the nickname "The Vulture" from teammate Sandy Koufax for his ability to enter games at crucial moments and secure wins. Regan compiled a career record of 96-81 with a 3.84 earned run average (ERA), appearing in 551 games and recording 92 saves. His most notable season came in 1966 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he was named an All-Star after posting a 14-1 record with a 1.62 ERA, leading the National League with 21 saves in 65 games. He later pitched for the Chicago Cubs beginning in 1968 and finished his major league career with a short stint on the Chicago White Sox in 1972.

Following his playing days, Regan built a substantial coaching and managerial resume. He spent nine years as the head baseball coach at Grand Valley State University and managed in the Dominican and Venezuelan winter leagues for over 20 years. In 1995, Regan managed the Baltimore Orioles during a strike-shortened season, compiling a 71-73 record while overseeing future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr., Mike Mussina, and Harold Baines. He replaced Johnny Oates for that season but was succeeded by Davey Johnson afterward.

Regan also served as a pitching coach for several major league organizations, including the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets, and was pitching coach for Team USA at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 2009, he returned to professional baseball with the Mets’ organization, coaching their Class A affiliate in St. Lucie for seven years before becoming a minor league assistant pitching coordinator. His guidance played a role in developing notable pitchers such as Jacob deGrom, Seth Lugo, Steven Matz, Paul Sewald, and Noah Syndergaard.

In 2019, at age 82, Regan was named interim pitching coach for the Mets’ major league team, replacing the dismissed Dave Eiland. He continued with the organization as a senior adviser for pitching development until 2022, when he filed a lawsuit against the Mets and then-general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, alleging age discrimination and wrongful termination. The Mets hired Jeremy Hefner, then 33, as pitching coach in 2020.

Regan, a native of Otsego, Michigan, had four children with his first wife, Carol, who passed away in 2004. He later met his second wife, Lissette, while coaching in Venezuela, a country where he was well respected for his long tenure in winter league baseball. Blit noted Regan’s pride in his family, especially his 18 grandchildren, and his enduring connection to Venezuelan baseball and culture.

“His life was dedicated to the game and his family,” Blit said, “but what many may not know is how much he valued his time and relationships in Venezuela, where he found both personal and professional reward.”