Diego Segui, the Cuban pitcher who famously appeared in the Seattle Pilots’ first major-league game in 1969 and threw the first pitch of the Seattle Mariners’ first game in 1977, died Tuesday at the age of 87.
“Our thoughts are with the Segui family, including David, Diego’s son, who the Mariners know well from his time with us in 1998 and 1999,” Mariners president of business operations Kevin Martinez said in a statement. “Diego was always generous with his time, visiting us in Seattle to help us celebrate milestones, including his last trip here for Hispanic Heritage Day in 2012.
“I also have fond memories of Diego’s grandson Cory throwing the final pitch in Kingdome history, a fitting finale for the Kingdome after Diego’s historic first pitch.”
Debuting with the Kansas City Athletics in 1962, Segui pitched for six teams across 15 MLB seasons, posting a 92-111 record with a 3.81 ERA in 639 games.
The right-hander was 12-6 with a 3.35 ERA for the Seattle Pilots during their lone MLB season in 1969. He started eight games and also had a team-best 12 saves that season. He appeared in the Pilots’ first game at the California Angels, allowing one run in three innings of relief in a 4-3 victory.
He won the American League ERA title with the Oakland Athletics in 1970, posting a 2.56 ERA in 162 innings.
He returned to Seattle for the Mariners’ inaugural season as a 39-year-old. Nicknamed “The Ancient Mariner,” he started the opening game vs. the Angels on April 6, 1977 at the Kingdome. His first pitch to catcher Bob Stinson was a called strike on the Angels’ Jerry Remy.
After finishing his major-league career, Diego pitched in the Mexican Professional League until 1984. He is a member of both the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame (inducted 2003) and the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame (inducted 2006).
In 2024, he was honored by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum with its Negro Leagues Beisbol Lifetime Achievement Award.
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