Former Kansas City A’s pitcher and MLB ERA champion dies at age of 87
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Diego Seguí, former A's pitcher and 1970 AL ERA leader, died at age 87.
- Seguí played 15 MLB seasons, debuting with Kansas City Athletics in 1962.
- He earned multiple Hall of Fame honors post-retirement.
Right-hander Diego Seguí, who pitched five seasons with the Kansas City Athletics in the 1960s, died Wednesday in Kansas City, Kansas, at the age of 87.
Seguí, whose passing was announced by the Mariners, appeared in the first game in Seattle Pilots franchise history in 1969 and also spent time with the Mariners, Cardinals, Red Sox, Washington Senators and Oakland A’s.
“Our thoughts are with the Seguí family, including David, Diego’s son, who the Mariners know well from his time with us in 1998 and 1999,” Mariners president of business operations Kevin Martinez said in a statement. “Diego was always generous with his time, visiting us in Seattle to help us celebrate milestones, including his last trip here for Hispanic Heritage Day in 2012.
“I also have fond memories of Diego’s grandson Cory throwing the final pitch in Kingdome history, a fitting finale for the Kingdome after Diego’s historic first pitch.”
Seguí was the starting pitcher in the first game Mariners history in 1977.
Starting with Kansas City
Seguí was born on Aug. 17, 1937, in Holguín, Cuba, and he signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 1958, according to a biography on the SABR website. That story noted Seguí was released in April and pitched in the Arizona-Mexico League before being sold to the Kansas City Athletics in September.
“The next three seasons Seguí pitched in the Athletics farm system and spent the offseason with teams around Central America and Venezuela, prompting concern that he would squander his pitching arm on meaningless games, instead of saving it for the major leagues,” Joanne Hulbert wrote.
But Seguí used those games to stay in shape and he joined the Athletics in 1962 as a relief pitcher. Seguí opened his MLB career with scoreless outings in his first five games and nine of his first 10.
Seguí collected four saves and two wins in that span.
“I like much work,” Seguí told the Kansas City Times’ Paul O’Boynick after allowing one hit in three innings in an A’s win over the Tigers on May 3. “My control (is) better when I work more. My arm feels good. I pitch much in the winter league.”
After defeating the Tigers on that May night, A’s pitching coach Eddie Lopat said Seguí would get the day off. Seguí’s response was an insight into his pitching philosophy.
“You call me,” Seguí told Lopat, “I pitch.”
Seguí ended up making 13 starts for the Athletics in 1962, and mostly was used in the rotation over the next three seasons. He led the league in losses (17) in 1964.
After being sold to the Washington Senators ahead of the 1966 season, Seguí returned to the Athletics in 1967. The franchise moved to Oakland the following year, and Seguí was selected by the Pilots in the MLB expansion draft following the 1968 season.
The Pilots stayed in Seattle for just one season before moving to Milwaukee and rebranding as the Brewers. Milwaukee traded Seguí back to the A’s and he led the league with a 2.56 ERA in 1970 after making 47 appearances for Oakland, including 19 starts.
Seguí pitched in the 1971 American League Championship Series with the A’s and later appeared in the 1975 World Series with Boston.
During his 15 MLB seasons, Seguí had a 3.81 ERA in 639 appearances, including 171 starts. He had a 92-111 record and 71 saves.
In an interview with the Longview Daily News in 1969, Seguí explained his mentality as a relief pitcher.
“If you scared,” Seguí said, “you whipped before you get there.”
Multiple accomplishments
After leaving baseball, Seguí lived in Kansas City, Kansas, with his wife, Emily, and their four children: Diego Jr., David, Daniel and Diana. David Seguí was born in KCK and was on the Kansas City Kansas Community College baseball team before playing 15 MLB seasons.
The Mariners noted that Diego Seguí is a member of the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame. He was honored last year by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum with a lifetime achievement award.
“Heartbroken about the news of the passing of my dear friend, and former MLB pitcher, Diego Seguí,” NLBM president Bob Kendrick wrote on X. “He was 87. We honored Diego last November with our Negro Leagues Beisbol Lifetime Achievement Award. Sending thoughts and prayers to the Seguí family.”
The SABR biography said that while Seguí pitched right-handed, he wrote and ate as a lefty. He could throw left-handed, too.
“Not too well, though,” Seguí told Hy Zimmerman in the Seattle Daily Times in 1969, per SABR. “Been throwing other way too long. I was changed when I was (a) little boy in Cuba. It was so long ago, I do not remember who or why. But I changed. Maybe they needed a right-hander. I grew up on (a) farm. Not many kids in the neighborhood. We played baseball in fields with small teams. Maybe five, six boys on a side. I was (a) good hitter. I thought I would get to baseball that way. But I throw hard. So they make me a pitcher.”
This story was originally published June 26, 2025 at 10:51 AM with the headline "Former Kansas City A’s pitcher and MLB ERA champion dies at age of 87."
