We say happy birthday to Diego Segui who was born in Holguin, Cuba, on this day in 1937. 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.
My guess is that young Diego of Holguin never heard of Seattle when he was dreaming of a baseball career in the island’s sandlots.
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.”
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! To my knowledge, no other major leaguer has ever done that.
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