Former All-Star pitcher Matt Keough died Saturday of undisclosed causes. He was 64.
He had been serving as a special assistant with the Oakland Athletics, who announced his death.
Keough was a second-generation major leaguer; his father, Marty Keough, played 11 seasons in the majors from 1956-66.
The younger Keough broke in with the A’s in 1978 and earned his only All-Star selection that season. He pitched with the A’s until 1983, then went on to pitch for the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros.
“Matt was a great baseball man and a proud Oakland A,” executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane said in a statement. “He had an incredible passion for the game and we were lucky to have him and his wealth of knowledge alongside us for the years he worked as a special assistant. He left an unforgettable impression on everyone he touched in baseball. Our sincere condolences are with the entire Keough family tonight.””
Keough, who grew up in Southern California, finished his career with a 58-84 record and a 4.17 ERA in 215 games, 175 of them as a starter.
After his final MLB season in 1986, Keough played four seasons in Japan. The right-hander attempted a comeback with the California Angels in 1992, and while sitting in the dugout during a spring training game, he was hit in the temple by a foul ball. He required brain surgery and never played again.
To the younger generation, he is best known for his appearances on “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” which followed his life with wife, Jeana, and their three children, Shane, Kara and Colton. The show debuted in 2005, and the Keough family was prominently featured for the first five years.
–Field Level Media
