On this day in 1937, Diego Segui was born in Holguin, Cuba. He was 21 years old when the Reds signed him as an amateur free agent in 1958, and 24 when he made his major league debut with the Kansas City Athletics in 1962. He had already had two stints with the A's (in both Kansas City and Oakland) and a cup of coffee with the Senators in Washington when the Seattle Pilots selected him in the 1969 expansion draft.
The Pilots didn't have a lot of bright spots in their lone season in Seattle, but Segui might have been their best pitcher. Working primarily out of the bullpen he pitched 142.1 innings, third most on the team, led the team with 12 saves and picked up 12 wins. In fact, he's one of just three players in franchise history with more than ten wins and saves in the same season:
Pitcher | Season | Wins | Saves |
Diego Segui | 1969 | 12 | 12 |
Dan Plesac | 1986 | 10 | 14 |
Tom Murphy | 1974 | 10 | 20 |
Following the season, Segui was traded back to the A's in exchange for infielder Ted Kubiak and pitcher George Lauzerique. His son, David, went on to have a 15 year major league career.
Diego Segui turns 74 today. With help from the B-Ref Play Index, we'd also like to wish a happy birthday today to:
- 2004 Brewer Jeff Liefer, who turns 37.
- 1971-73 Brewer Bill Parsons, who turns 63.
- Seattle Pilot and 1970-73 Brewer Skip Lockwood, who turns 65.