Flanagan, "Mike" (Michael K.)

Baseball

b. Dec. 16, 1951, Manchester, NH

Career Pitching Record

A left-handed pitcher who relied on the curve and change-up rather than the fastball, Flanagan became a full-time starter for the AL's Baltimore Orioles in 1977 after brief stints with the team the two previous seasons.

He won the league's Cy Young Award in 1979, when he led the AL in shutouts with 5 and in victories with a 23-9 record. It was his only 20-victory season, but he did reach double digits in wins seven other times.

Flanagan was troubled by injuries frequently from 1981 through 1986, and Baltimore traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1987 season. After three mediocre years in Toronto, he returned in 1991 to Baltimore, where he was used as a middle-inning relief pitcher for two seasons before his retirement.

He had a career 167-143 record, with 19 shutouts and a 3.90 ERA. Flanagan struck out 1,491 hitters and walked 890 in 2,770 innings.