Matt Keough obit

Former A's pitcher, executive Matt Keough dies at 64

 

He was not on the list.

Former major league pitcher Matt Keough, a special assistant with the Oakland Athletics, has died, the team announced on Saturday. He was 64.

The A's did not disclose details on the cause of death.

Keough spent parts of seven seasons with Oakland as a player, ending in 1983, and was named an All-Star as a rookie in 1978. He was also named the American League Comeback Player of the Year in 1980, and he pitched for the Yankees, Cardinals, Cubs and Astros as well.

"Matt was a great baseball man and a proud Oakland A," executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane said in a statement. "He had an incredible passion for the game and we were lucky to have him and his wealth of knowledge alongside us for the years he worked as a special assistant."

The A's organization mourns the loss of former pitcher and special assistant Matt Keough.

"He left an unforgettable impression on everyone he touched in baseball. Our sincere condolences are with the entire Keough family tonight." - Billy Beane pic.twitter.com/sEGaLiFLc7

— Oakland A's (@Athletics) May 3, 2020

"The community of Players is saddened by the loss of Matt Keough, who carried on his family's proud baseball legacy through more than four decades as a Player, coach, scout and executive," the Major League Baseball Players Association said in a statement Sunday.

After retiring as a player, Keough graduated to on-field and front-office roles with the California Angels and Tamp Bay Devil Rays, in addition to the Athletics. The 6-foot-3 right-hander finished with a 58-84 record, a 4.17 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP and 590 strikeouts in 215 games.

Keough was part of an impressive Oakland rotation known as the "Five Aces," which also included Rick Langford, Steve McCatty, Brian Kingman and Mike Norris. The "Aces" graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1981.

"He left an unforgettable impression on everyone he touched in baseball," Beane said.

Keough's best year came in 1980, when he went 16-13 for the Athletics, sporting a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts, with a career-high 121 strikeouts.

In 1979, he tied a major league record by losing his first 14 decisions and finished with a 2–17 record. His winning percentage of .105 was the worst recorded by a major league pitcher with 15 or more decisions since 1916, when Philadelphia A's teammates Jack Nabors and Tom Sheehan finished the season with winning percentages of .048 and .059, respectively. From 1978–79, Keough made 28 consecutive starts without a victory, tying Cliff Curtis (1910–11) for the longest streak in MLB history according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The streak was later tied by Jo-Jo Reyes (2008–11).

 

MLB statistics

Win–loss record  58–84

Earned run average            4.17

Strikeouts            590

NPB statistics

Win–loss record  45–44

Earned run average            3.73

Strikeouts            398

Teams

Minors - Chattanooga Lookouts, Tucson Turos, Nashville Sounds and Louisville Redbirds

Oakland Athletics (1977–1983)

New York Yankees (1983)

St. Louis Cardinals (1985)

Chicago Cubs (1986)

Houston Astros (1986)

Hanshin Tigers (1987–1990)

Career highlights and awards

All-Star (1978)