Mike Flanagan, a former Cy Young winner and part of the Baltimore Orioles' 1983 World Series championship team, has died. He was 59. Authorities found a body outside Flanagan's home in Monkton, Md., on Wednesday afternoon. Hours later, the Orioles confirmed that Flanagan -- who served the team as a pitcher, front office executive and television broadcaster -- was dead. "I am so sorry to hear about Mike's passing. He was a good friend and teammate," said Hall of Fame third baseman Cal Ripken Jr., a former teammate of Flanagan's. "... Mike was an Oriole through and through and he will be sorely missed by family, friends and fans. This is a sad day." Flanagan was a crafty left-hander who went 167-143 with a 3.90 ERA over 18 seasons with Baltimore and Toronto. He didn't possess an overpowering fastball, but won a fair share of games by depending on a slow curve, a sinker and a changeup. An All-Star in 1978, Flanagan received the Cy Young Award with the Orioles in 1979 after going 23-9 with a 3.08 ERA and five shutouts. The Orioles lost the World Series that year in seven games to Pittsburgh. "He's one of our family. A great friend, competitor, whit, funny, hysterical, talented," former teammate and Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer said after doing the Orioles' telecast Wednesday night in Minneapolis. "He was a breath of fresh air with his humor, his insight all those things. He was just a terrific guy." Read more: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/6893503/former-baltimore-orioles-pitcher-mike-flanagan-found-dead
