Former ERA champion Diego Segui has passed away. He was 87.
Born in Cuba and a natural left-hander, Segui nevertheless began throwing a baseball right handed. He initially signed with the Reds but never got an opportunity in the Cincinnati farm system. He spent some time pitching for an independent team before the A’s purchased his contract. Segui would spend three seasons climbing the minor league ladder and reached the big leagues in 1962. The A’s, based in Kansas City at the time, used him mostly as a starting pitcher.
The 6’0″ hurler ate a lot of innings but didn’t have great numbers. The A’s sold his contract to the Washington Senators in 1966 before reacquiring him the following year. A move to the bullpen seemed to spark him, as he posted a 3.09 ERA over 70 innings. He turned in a career-low 2.39 mark over 52 appearances the following year, the franchise’s first in Oakland.
After that season, the Seattle Pilots — a team that played one season before moving to Milwaukee and rebranding as the Brewers — selected Segui in the expansion draft. He worked to a 3.35 ERA while logging 142 1/3 frames in an age when relievers frequently threw multiple innings. The Brewers traded him back to Oakland the following offseason.
The A’s third acquisition of Segui was their most successful. He had a career year in 1970, firing 162 innings across 47 appearances (including 19 starts). He led all qualified pitchers with a 2.56 earned run average. The A’s reached the postseason the following year, allowing Segui to make his playoff debut. He got the start in an elimination game against the Orioles during the AL Championship Series. He was outpitched by Jim Palmer and the A’s dropped the game 5-3.
Segui’s time with the organization ended for good the following season, as they dealt him to the Cardinals midway through the ’72 campaign. That unfortunately immediately preceded Oakland’s run of three consecutive titles in 1972-74. Segui spent a couple seasons in St. Louis before being traded to the Red Sox. He didn’t post great numbers with Boston but was on the ’75 team that ended his former club’s three-peat in the ALCS. While Segui did not appear in that series, he tossed a mop-up inning in a Game 5 loss to the Reds in the World Series. An inherited runner scored on a sacrifice fly, but he retired George Foster, Dave Concepcion and Cesar Geronimo in order.
The Sox dropped the ’75 World Series in a classic seven-game set, which kept Segui from ever winning a championship. He finished his big league career in 1977 with the expansion Mariners. He was the first pitcher in team history as the Opening Day starter and earned the distinction of appearing for both Seattle franchises. Thanks to his age (39) and previous Seattle ties, he received the fantastic nickname “The Ancient Mariner.”
Segui’s MLB playing days concluded after the ’77 season. He pitched in parts of 15 seasons and logged a 3.81 ERA in more than 1800 innings. Segui won 92 games, recorded nearly 1300 strikeouts, and collected 71 saves. His playing days stretched far beyond the end of his big league time, though. He pitched in the Mexican League until 1984, going through age 46. Segui also had an extended run in the Venezuelan winter league during his MLB career, for which he was inducted into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. His son David Segui would go to a 15-year MLB career of his own as a first baseman/outfielder. MLBTR sends our condolences to the Segui family and others affected by his loss.
Remember Diego well from that classic series and some old baseball cards.
Another player from my youth gone. Where does the time go? Some days it seems like I was catching a doubleheader just yesterday.
But I digress. Rest in peace, Diego. Condolences to your family and friends.
We’re old, my friend. But we’re still here, enjoying the game we still love and reminiscing about the old days.
some of my first baseball memories that 75 series. lost Mick Ralphs yesterday from Mott/Bad co. fame. between musicians and ohter childhood heroes leaving the earth…not a lot of fun. enjoy every sandwich boyos.
Mick was a tremendous loss. To me, moreso for Mott The Hoople. He was “the guitarist of my youth”. Diego was always a solid arm no matter where he went or what the situation…
I have his Washington card ,from when san Diego never moves to Washington. Weird
Same here…I still have my old baseball cards from the 70’s boxed up in storage.
wish i did but my son of a b nephew found them when i was in the Navy and sold them off. never forgive him for that.
RIP, Diego. Never knew David Segui’s pop was that well traveled a hurler, pitching through age 46 is amazing. Thanks for the history lesson of the Ancient Mariner.
I remember Diego well. He was dominant at times and probably deserved a better record than he ended up with. RIP big guy.
I’ll always remember him because he started for the visiting Kansas City A’s in the very first game I ever went to, at Comiskey Park in Chicago in 1963.
I have a sweet PSA graded 9 of the 1970 ERA leaders and there he is on top with Jim Palmer in second!
Baseball lifer.
RIP Diego Segui.
David Segui one of my favorite orioles. Rip
at first I thought it was david too.
David was king in the junk wax era. Had so many of his cards as a kid.
Same here. As utterly worthless as most of those cards are now i miss those days
Wally Joyner and Ben Grieve are up there.
put him with Greg Jefferies I got millions of his – would have been great if he turned out like they thought soon after he became useful as bookmarks.
RIP Diego…..
I believe he’s the only player to play on both the Seattle Pilots & Seattle Mariners.
Yes
R.I.P. to Diego and condolences for the Segui family.
Never saw Diego play as his career was over before i was born but did see a lot of David’s games over the years, especially when he was with Baltimore
At first glance I thought the headline said David Segui, I was like woah he’s not that old what the heck?
Rest in Peace to Diego Segui.
He was clearly the best pitcher on my first MLB team, the Seattle Pilots. I loved watching him pitch. The team was terrible but he was great.
Remember him well with the A’s. He was a real competitor in an era when successful players acted like they’d been there before.
Seemed like he was in every pack of baseball cards I opened in the 1970s.
DEFINITELY in ’74!!!
Thank you for the detailed summary of his career. He is one of the many players who were very important and well known in their era, but not even known by so many younger fans. So many good players that are not HOF worthy but need to be remembered. Also probably the last ex-Sioux City Soos player to be playing in the MLB. RIP Diego.
Nice write up. Thanks. I appreciate this part of the mlbtr experience!
The Sox dropped the ’75 World Series as Jim Rice was injured and the home plate umpire didn’t know how to call interference. I remember Segui, he was still decent in ’74 and ’75, just not what he had been in previous years. Good ballplayer, seems to have had a good life.
Bill Lee throwing that powderpuff pitch to Tony Perez in Game 7 did them in. Who throws a stupid eephus pitch in the team’s most crucial game in 8 years?
Spaceman.
The 75 Red Sox team got this kid hooked on baseball. Lived on Queenberry st when the Star Market was being built. Custers Last Stand ?? Diego Segui was a part of that great team. He was born in Cuba , I wonder if his story is similar to that of another Cuban, The great Luis Tiant? His teammate.
Anyway,memory lane.
RIP. Diego Segui
RIP