From 2011 onwards, I said that so long as I opted to pen a Baltimore Orioles’ column, I’d commemorate this day. August 24th…the day that an untimely death rocked Birdland. That of the great Mike Flanagan.
Flanagan (“Flanny”) held various posts within the organization throughout his time. None more treasured than pitcher, of course. However he was also the pitching coach here and there, as well as a broadcaster, and an executive.
Here’s the thing with Mike Flanagan; he was one of “us.” Yes, he was an Oriole – which made him a celebrity. That goes without saying. But how many 80’s kids of my generation rode the bus with his kids? How many O’s fans of my Dad’s generation knew Flanagan through various places around town?
Mike Flanagan was an everyday guy who happened to be good at baseball. But he was SO PROUD to be an Oriole. It killed him to be traded to Toronto at the end of his career. And when his contract was up he signed back with the O’s as a reliever. When he joined the Orioles, he moved here and became a Baltimorean. And while he was always proud of his New England roots, he lived and died with everything that was important to the City of Baltimore over a long period of time.
15 years after his untimely death, I’m still writing about him. He wasn’t perfect; but everyone who ever saw him pitch, watched one of his pitchers (as a pitching coach), watched one of the players he acquired (as an executive), or heard him call a game, knew the mark he left on this organization. I’m privileged to check all four of those boxes. Rest in peace, Flanny. Today and everyday. We miss you.
Birdland Crush 