Former Major League Baseball pitcher and Ohio native Dick Drago has died, according to reports. He was 78.
Drago died Thursday in Florida following complications from a surgery, The Boston Globe reports.
A native of Toledo, Drago played 13 seasons in MLB, including five with the Boston Red Sox, five with the Kansas City Royals, one-plus season with the California Angels, one with the Baltimore Orioles and one with the Seattle Mariners. He originally signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1964, but was later drafted by the Royals as the 31st overall pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft.
Both the Royals and Red Sox issued statements on Drago’s death.
“We mourn the passing of Dick Drago, a member of the inaugural 1969 Royals, and send our condolences to his family and loved ones,” the Royals said in a tweet.
“We’re saddened by the passing of Dick Drago, a staple of the 70’s Red Sox pitching staff and a beloved teammate. We extend our sympathies to the Drago family,” the Red Sox said in a tweet.
Drago finished his MLB career with a 108-117 record, 3.62 ERA and 987 strikeouts in 1,875 innings pitched across 519 games, including 189 starts. He finished fifth in voting for the 1971 Cy Young Award, behind winner and Oakland Athletics pitcher Vida Blue, who died at age 73 in May.
