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Dick Drago
Drago in 1977
Pitcher
Born: (1945-06-25)June 25, 1945
Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Died: November 2, 2023(2023-11-02) (aged 78)
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 11, 1969, for the Kansas City Royals
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 1981, for the Seattle Mariners
MLB statistics
Win–loss record108–117
Earned run average3.62
Strikeouts987
Teams

Richard Anthony Drago (June 25, 1945 – November 2, 2023) was an American relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City Royals (1969–1973), Boston Red Sox (1974–1975, 1978–1980), California Angels (1976–1977), Baltimore Orioles (1977), and Seattle Mariners (1981). He batted and threw right-handed.

Career

Drago played high school ball for Woodward High School in Toledo, Ohio, graduating in 1963. [1]

He was originally signed by the Detroit Tigers in the 1964 amateur draft, though was selected by the Kansas City Royals during the 1968 expansion draft and started his Major League career with the Royals in 1969, becoming the ace of their pitching staff in 1971, after going 17–11 with a 2.98 earned run average (ERA), and ending fifth in the AL Cy Young Award vote behind Vida Blue, Mickey Lolich, Wilbur Wood and Dave McNally. Finishing with a 3.01 ERA in 1972, Drago went 12–17, but declined with 12–14 and 4.23 in 1973. He was traded by the Royals to the Red Sox for Marty Pattin on October 24, 1973, [2]

Drago also pitched for the Angels and Orioles in parts of two seasons.

He had been acquired by the Orioles from the Angels for Dyar Miller on June 13, 1977. [3]

He filed for free agency after his lone season with the Orioles. [4] He returned to Boston after signing with the Red Sox on November 21, 1977. [5] During his last three years with the Red Sox, he saved 13 games with a 10–6 record in 1979. He ended his major league career with Seattle in 1981.

On July 20, 1976, Drago gave up the last of Hank Aaron's then-major league record 755 career home runs. [6] In a 13-season career, Drago posted a 108–117 record with a 3.62 ERA and 58 saves in 519 appearances (189 as a starter).

Death

Drago died on November 2, 2023, at the age of 78. [7]

References

  1. ^ Harkins, Tom. "Dick Drago". sabr.org. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "Royals, Red Sox Trade Pitchers". The New York Times. Associated Press (AP). October 24, 1973. p. 63. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  3. ^ "Yesterday's Pro Transactions". The New York Times. June 14, 1977. p. 51. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  4. ^ Harvin, Al (October 29, 1977). "People in Sports". The New York Times. p. 38. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  5. ^ "Bostock becomes 'highest paid'" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. Iowa City. United Press International (UPI). November 22, 1977. p. 6. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  6. ^ "Henry Aaron's 755th home run". mlb.com. MLB Advanced Media. April 23, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  7. ^ Hass, Trevor (November 4, 2023). "Dick Drago, staple of Red Sox pitching staff in 1970s, dies at 78". www.boston.com. Retrieved November 4, 2023.

External links

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