Craig, renowned pitching coach of 1984 Tigers, dies at 93
NEW YORK — Roger Craig, who pitched for three championship teams during his major league career and then managed the San Francisco Giants to the 1989 World Series that was interrupted by a massive earthquake, has died. He was 93.
A spokesperson for the Giants said the team was informed by a family member that Craig died Sunday in San Diego following a short illness.
He was on manager Sparky Anderson's staff with the 1984 Tigers, who opened 35-5 and won the World Series. Craig was credited with teaching the split-finger fastball to Hall of Fame starter Jack Morris and 1986 NL Cy Young Award winner Mike Scott.
“We have lost a legendary member of our Giants family,” Giants President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Baer said in a statement. “Roger was beloved by players, coaches, front office staff and fans. He was a father figure to many and his optimism and wisdom resulted in some of the most memorable seasons in our history."
Craig was a rookie on the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers club that won the franchise's first title. He had a terrific season for the 1959 Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat the White Sox in the World Series. And he made 39 appearances for the 1964 Cardinals squad that topped the New York Yankees for the championship.
The 6-foot-4 right-hander also pitched for the Mets, Reds and Phillies during his 12-year career, finishing 74-98 with a 3.83 ERA and 19 saves.
After his playing days were done, Craig became a renowned pitching coach for the San Diego Padres, Houston Astros and Tigers — famously encouraging his charges to “humm, baby" in a low southern drawl.
Monday’s games
Rays 4, Red Sox 1: Shane McClanahan pitched six innings of five-hit ball to earn his major league-leading ninth win and visiting Tampa Bay eventually found a wall the Red Sox couldn’t leap above. In the makeup of Friday’s rainout, the Rays beat Boston for a third straight game and seventh time in eight tries this year.
After watching the Red Sox rob Luke Raley and Francisco Mejia early, Tampa scored three in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. Raley, whose 398-foot fly ball was snared above the bullpen wall by Kike Hernandez in right-center in the second inning, started the rally with a line drive double high off the Green Monster.
Marlins 9, Royals 6: Luis Arraez had three hits to raise his major league-leading batting average to .399, and host Miami won its fourth straight game. Arraez drove in two runs for the Marlins, who erased an early four-run deficit.
Reds 2, Brewers 0: Stuart Fairchild and Tyler Stephenson hit solo home runs and Andrew Abbott threw six scoreless innings in his major league debut, helping host Cincinnati avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of Milwaukee. The 24-year-old Abbott, the 2021 second-round draft pick from the University of Virginia, allowed just one hit, walked four and struck out six.
Astros 11, Blue Jays 4: Corey Julks hit his first career grand slam and visiting Houston used a season-high 19 hits to win its eighth game in 11 tries. Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker hit solo homers and Jake Meyers added a two-run blast for the Astros. Astros catcher Yainer Diaz had four hits, including two doubles.