Books and articles about Phil Regan

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As a starter for Detroit, 6'3" Phil Regan won a career-high 15 games in 1963 but was optioned to Syracuse (International League) after poor showings in 1964 and 1965. While there, he purportedly added a "greaseball," which was said to "slide" 15-16 inches. Picked up in the off-season by the Dodgers in 1966 and converted to a reliever, The Vulture (so nicknamed by Sandy Koufax for picking up wins in short relief) went 14-1 (1.62, NL-high 21 saves) to garner Comeback Player of the Year and Fireman of the Year honors. Regan and Jim Hickman were shipped to the Cubs in April of 1968, and Regan again was named Fireman of the Year, leading the league with 12 relief wins and 25 saves. On July 7 that season he gained victories in both ends of a doubleheader. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 16, 1961: Detroit's Phil Regan beats New York 4–2 at home, as the Tigers take first place. » July 16, 1961: Detroit regains 1st place with two complete game victories from Phil Regan and Don Mossi. » June 24, 1962: A marathon between the Tigers and Yankees concludes in the 22nd inning when Jack Reed's home run—his only one in the ML—gives New York and Jim Bouton a 9–7 victory. Reed replaced Pepitone in the 13th. For the Tigers, Phil Regan takes the loss and Rocky Colavito has seven hits. Bobby Richardson ties a mark by going to the plate 11 times. At an even seven hours, the game is the slowest extra-inning contest in league history and it is the longest game in innings in Yankee history. » December 15, 1965: Detroit trades P Phil Regan to the Dodgers for IF Dick Tracewski. Regan will lead the National League in saves in 1966 while winning 14 of 15 decisions. » April 21, 1968: The Dodgers win a pair from the Mets behind reliever Phil Regan, who picks up both wins. It'll earn him a trip to Chicago. » April 23, 1968: The Cubs make a canny trade acquiring P Phil Regan and OF Jim Hickman from the Dodgers for OF Ted Savage and P Jim Ellis. » July 7, 1968: Phil Regan picks up two wins in relief for the second time this season as the Cubs sweep the Pirates, 5–4 and 4–3, edging Bob Veale and Elroy Face. Regan won a pair on April 21st for the Dodgers, and no reliever has ever won a pair twice in a season. The Vulture will the top the National League with 12 relief wins and 25 saves. » August 8, 1968: The Cubs trip the Braves, 4–0, behind Bill Hands, with relief help from Phil Regan. Ump Chris Pelekoudas goes the mound to inspect cap and glove of the Cubs' Phil Regan. When game continues, Pelakoudas accuses Regan of three illegal pitches nullifying a fly out, a K, and changing a strike to a ball. Wrigley fans toss garbage on field. Leo Durocher, Randy Hundley, and Al Spangler get tossed as well. NL prexy Warren Giles, after a special hearing, says umps should have better evidence before calling pitches illegal. » August 18, 1968: In the opener of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field, umpire Chris Pelekoudas calls three illegal pitches on Cubs P Phil Regan, twice allowing a retired batter to hit again. Pete Rose singles after a called 3rd strike. Pelekoudas can't find any evidence on Regan and bases his calls on "the flight of the ball." The Cubs, who lose both games, 2–1 and 6–3, protest the ump's calls. The next day Warren Giles meets with Cubs' officials and orders Pelekoudas to apologize to the church-going Regan, whom he calls a "fine Christian gentleman." However, at the ML winter meetings, the Rules Committee will further amend the spitball rule to allow an ump to call an illegal pitch based on the flight of the ball. » September 18, 1970: The Cubs sweep a pair from Montreal, winning 3–2 and 5–4. Fergie Jenkins wins his 20th in game 1, helped by Billy Williams' 40th homer of the year. Phil Regan is the victor in game 2.