We say happy # 82 to Diego Segui of Holguin, Cuba. He was another one of those who played in the old Cuban league and later in the US major leagues: Segui won 92 games, saved 71 with a 3.81 ERA.
Diego broke in with the Kansas City A’s (now Oakland A’s) in 1962 but left his mark in the city of Seattle.
Segui is the answer to a great baseball trivia question: Who pitched on opening day for the old Seattle Pilots in 1969 and the current Seattle Mariners who started playing in 1977? (By the way, the 1969 Seattle Pilots became the 1970 and current Milwaukee Brewers)
Here is the story:
“The city of Seattle (Washington) has been home to two Major League franchises.
The Seattle Pilots, who were an American League team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, 1969, before being relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
And the modern day Seattle Mariners, an American League team also based in Seattle, Washington, 1977 through today.
Diego Segui is the only player in baseball history to play for both the Seattle Pilots (66 games pitched in 1969) and the Seattle Mariners (40 games pitched in 1977).
Even more unique than that, Diego Segui played in both franchises Opening Day game, appearing in relief on April 8, 1969, the first game in franchise history for the Seattle Pilots, and was handed the loss on April 6, 1977, the first game in franchise history for the Seattle Mariners.”
He appeared in the 1971 ALCS with Oakland and in the 1975 World Series with Boston. Segui, along with Tony Perez and Luis Tiant, played in that legendary series.
Diego retired in 1977 after pitching with a few other teams.
Segui will be always be remembered in Seattle. He is the only man who wore the Pilots and Mariners uniforms on their respective opening day games!
P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.