SEATTLE MARINERS

Former Mariners pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Sr. dies at 77

Jan 14, 2019, 11:09 AM | Updated: 2:11 pm

Mel Stottlemyre Sr. spent the 2008 season as Seattle Mariners pitching coach. (AP)...

Mel Stottlemyre Sr. spent the 2008 season as Seattle Mariners pitching coach. (AP)

(AP)

Mel Stottlemyre Sr., a five-time All-Star pitcher and legendary MLB pitching coach, has died at the age of 77.

Stottlemyre spent the 2008 season as Seattle Mariners pitching coach, but he is perhaps best known as pitching coach for the New York Yankees from 1996 to 2005, a tenure during which the Yankees won four World Series championships (1996, 1998-2000). As a player, Stottlemyre made his MLB debut for the Yankees in 1961 and spent 11 seasons with New York, compiling a 164-139 record with a 2.97 ERA and registering three 20-win seasons.

“Mel was an outstanding pitcher, earning his place among the best Yankees pitchers ever, and won five World Titles as a pitching coach, as well as the thanks and respect of a legion of pitchers he coached from youth baseball to the Majors,” Mariners President and CEO Kevin Mather said in a statement. “But more than that, he was truly one of the great gentlemen of our game. I was honored to get to know him when he was our pitching coach, and was always pleased to see him in Seattle or in the ballpark when his son, Mel Jr., coached for us. Our thoughts are with his wife Jean, sons Mel Jr. and Todd, and his grandchildren.”

Though born in Missouri, Stottlemyre grew up in Washington and starred at both Mabton High School and Yakima Valley Community College. Following his playing career, Stottlemyre was a roving minor league pitching instructor for the Mariners from their inception in 1977 through 1981, as well as serving as Dave Niehaus’ color commentator in a few TV broadcasts in 1977.

He won his first World Series in 1986 as pitching coach for the New York Mets. In addition to the Mets (1984-93), Yankees (1996-2003) and Mariners (2008), he spent time as pitching coach for the Houston Astros (1994-95).

Stottlemyre, who retired to Issaquah, was diagnosed in 2000 with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood plasma. He underwent a stem cell transplant in September 2000, and was in remission until the cancer returned in 2010.

Two of Stottlemyre’s sons had careers in baseball: Todd Stottlemyre spent 14 years in the majors as a pitcher, while Mel Stottlemyre Jr. had a brief run with the Kansas City Royals before following in his father’s footsteps as a pitching coach, including three years with the Mariners from 2016-18.

In addition to Mel Jr. and Todd, Stottlemyre Sr. is survived by his wife Jean. He was preceded in death by a son, Jason, who died from leukemia as a child.

Mariners Roof Report

Brought to you by
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
High 66° | Low 43°
Roof is open
Rockies at Mariners today at 1:10pm

Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners Dominic Canzone...

Brent Stecker

What could unlock Mariners’ Dominic Canzone for a breakout in ’24

Dominic Canzone has been one of the best hitters for the Seattle Mariners this spring. Jerry Dipoto talked to Wyman and Bob about his ceiling.

12 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Luis Castillo...

Shannon Drayer

Mariners Notebook: Opening day starter set, plus a pitch clock wrinkle

Shannon Drayer details the makeup of the Seattle Mariners' planned 2024 starting rotation and opening day starter, plus much more from Arizona.

13 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Logan Gilbert...

Shannon Drayer

Seattle Mariners Notebook: Checking in on the pitchers

Seattle Mariners' Shannon Drayer caught up with Logan Gilbert after a good outing, and has notes on Luis Castillo, Matt Brash and more.

1 day ago

Seattle Mariners Julio Rodríguez...

Brent Stecker

Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez details his offseason meeting with Servais

Seattle Sports' Wyman and Bob talked to Mariners star Julio Rodríguez about his time this offseason with the skipper, plus the goals that are clear in the clubhouse.

2 days ago

Seattle Mariners Scott Servais...

Shannon Drayer

Drayer: How Mariners and Servais view start of season differently

After some slow starts in years past, the Seattle Mariners plan to approach the start of the season differently, Scott Servais says.

2 days ago

Seattle Mariners J.P. Crawford...

Brandon Gustafson

J.P. Crawford: Trade to Mariners ‘saved my career, saved my life’

J.P. Crawford sure is glad to be with the Seattle Mariners, as he explained to Wyman & Bob when discussing his early years in Philadelphia.

3 days ago

Former Mariners pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Sr. dies at 77