THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SPARKS, Md. — Police records show former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Mike Flanagan threatened to kill himself several times before committing suicide.
Flanagan won the Cy Young award in 1979 and was a member of the Orioles’ 1983 world championship team. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound outside his Baltimore County home last month.
Records obtained by The Baltimore Sun reveal that Flanagan had previously threatened to shoot himself and had walked outside with a gun several times. His wife, Alex, had discouraged him from suicide each time.
Alex Flanagan told detectives that the couple was upset that he had been working without a contract for a year and a half as a commentator with the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. The Orioles’ communications director says Flanagan had a contract and was being paid.
Flanagan won 167 games over 18 seasons with the Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays.
