Flanagan's death an apparent suicide

BALTIMORE -- Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Mike Flanagan, a Cy Young Award winner who became a television announcer and top executive with the club, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday afternoon, according to police.

Flanagan had been upset about financial issues, police said yesterday.

Flanagan's wife, Alex, who was out of town, sent a neighbor to their house in the 15000 block of York Road in Sparks, Md., on Wednesday when she didn't hear from her husband. According to police, Alex had last spoken to an upset Flanagan at about 1 a.m. and was concerned when he failed to call her the following day. The neighbor, unable to find Flanagan, called 911.

Baltimore County police found Flanagan's body on a trail about 250 feet behind his home at about 4:30 p.m.

Police confirmed that Flanagan, 59, appeared to have shot himself in the face, making identification difficult and delaying official confirmation of his death. Flanagan did not leave a note, police said.

The Flanagan family released a statement through the Orioles. "We thank you for your support and kind words at this difficult time. Thank you for respecting our privacy as we grieve," the statement said, adding that a private memorial would be held but did not provide details.

Word of Flanagan's death spread quickly in baseball circles, with former teammates and current Orioles players offering tributes.

"It's just shock right now," former Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey said. "I know everybody that played with him loved him to death. He was the backbone of that pitching staff."

Flanagan, who was in his second year as a color analyst for the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, spent more than 30 years with the Orioles as a player, coach, front-office executive and broadcaster.

"Mike was such a unique guy, talented, witty, funny," Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer said. "You are not ready to lose someone like Mike Flanagan. But on the other side, I feel lucky to be part of the organization and have had him as a friend and a confidant and buddy, and see all facets of him."

Selected by the Orioles in the 1973 amateur draft, Flanagan went 167-143 with a 3.90 ERA in 18 major-league seasons.