Former starting pitcher Dick Drago has passed away on Thursday at the age of 78, as noted by Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. Drago pitched for the Royals, Red Sox, Angels, Orioles, and Mariners throughout his big league career, which spanned 13 seasons from 1969 to 1981. The Royals and Red Sox both mourned the loss on X this morning, extending sympathies to Drago’s friends and family.
Drago’s big league career began as a member of the inaugural Royals team in 1969, a team for which he quickly emerged as one of the better starting options. Drago posted a 3.77 ERA with a 3.67 FIP across 200 2/3 innings of work during his rookie campaign, throwing 10 complete games and appearing in 41 with 26 starts. He largely repeated those results during the 1970 season with even more volume, pitching to a 3.75 ERA and 3.65 FIP across 240 innings of work.
The righty’s star shined brightest during the 1971 campaign, however. Across 35 appearances (34 starts) for Kansas City that year, Drago posted a 2.98 ERA with a nearly matching 2.99 FIP. He did that across 241 1/3 innings of work, recording 15 complete games with four shutouts among them. Drago’s performance led the Royals to the club’s first season above .500 in the young franchise’s history and earned him a fifth-place finish in AL Cy Young award voting that year while the trophy ultimately went to Vida Blue.
Drago ultimately spent two more seasons in Kansas City, pitching to a 3.58 ERA and 3.47 FIP across a combined 452 innings of work those seasons. In 1974, Drago began his first stint in Boston, which would only last two seasons. That included, of course, the club’s 1975 World Series run that saw them lose the World Series in seven games against the Reds. While Drago pitched just 72 2/3 innings of 3.84 ERA baseball with the Red Sox during the regular season that year, his contributions in four appearances out of the Boston bullpen during the playoffs were far more impressive: Drago allowed just one run in 8 2/3 innings of work across four appearances that postseason against the A’s and Reds.
After converting to relief work in the 1975 season Drago spent two seasons pitching out of the bullpen for the Angels (for whom he gave up the final home run of Hank Aaron’s career in 1976) and the Orioles, with a 3.99 ERA and 3.86 FIP in 140 innings of work across those two seasons, before returning to Boston in 1978. His second stint with the club lasted three seasons, and saw him do some of his best work as a reliever: he posted identical 3.03 ERAs in back-to-back campaigns in ’78 and ’79 before reaching 100 innings pitched in a season for the first time since 1974, his first season with the Red Sox, during the 1980 campaign, his final in Boston.
Drago’s career then came to a close in 1981, after 39 appearances with the Mariners. Over his 13-season big league career, Drago posted a 3.62 ERA and 3.58 FIP with an above-average ERA+ of 103 across 1875 innings of work. He appeared in 519 games, struck out 987 batters, and accrued 108 wins throughout his career. We at MLB Trade Rumors extend our condolences to Drago’s family, friends, fans and former teammates.
Awesome name
With that dark bushy mustache, I recall his ‘Black Dragon” moniker. Rest in peace and thank you for the 75 memories as the Sox closer.
Was he the closer then (if there was one on that club)? I might be mixing up his second stint.
He was on and off, but then they obtained Jim Willoughby. Diego Segui also closed.
Correct. Willoughby was a lifesavior that ’75 season though. Drago was so inconsistent and Willow had the partial season a guy could dream of
I remember players mostly refering him to as “Dragon”, or like “Hey Dragon” when saying something to him during ST. Just tossing that out there and as a personal thing? he wasn’t really one of the 10 nicest guys would say met and knew some of all the sox players those 20, or so years with access to ST clubhouse and more.
It’s as painful as it sounds.
His initials are R.A.D.
I new him during our high-school playing days, (1962-63).
He was a man playing amongst boys.
He was totally unhittable. Velocity wasn’t measured then and his fastball was more than intimidating, as you heard it pass by then hit the catcher’s clove. He was by far the most intimidating pitcher I had ever faced. RIP. And thanks for the memory.
RIP Mr Drago. I will never forget you signing a ball and trying to show a 16 year old me how to throw a curveball when you came to the Angels. Dismal season, but you were a bright spot for me. My condolences to your family.
Dick Drago was “Untouchable” til Griffey hit the game winning double in the bottom of the 9th in game 2 of the 75 series.
One of the highlights of my life, I was in attendance for Aaron’s final HR off Drago. Hank Aaron was my favorite player growing up and still is. I was a Braves fan until they moved to Atlanta. I have been an Angels fan since.
RIP to them both.
Just curious as I was reading the article – how did Aaron hit his final HR off Drago when there was no inter league play back then?
Aaron had returned to Milwaukee, which was in the AL in 1976
I remember when the Red Sox made him a reliever and the closer in 1979. He was not bad either doing it. RIP Brother!
RIP
Dick Drago. A player few remember except for old folks.
Bruce Sutter. HoF player.
fWAR
Drago: 22.8
Sutter: 19.2
The difference – situational performance, i.e., “Saves.”
Drago: 58
Sutter: 300
Okay, it is more complicated than that. My point is that Drago was unappreciated.
There are at least 25 pitchers with far better credentials than Don Drysdale, but Don is in the HOF and the other 25 aren’t. In Drysdale’s case, it was L.A. hype. No HOF will ever be fair.
67 career rWAR, averaging 5 WAR over his 12 peak stretch. Led the league in pitching WAR twice. While a non-existent stat then, it allows us to look back and see at his best he clearly was elite, among the best in the game. Four straight years leading the league in starts. Multiple “black ink” years. Batters who faced him said he had some of the nastiest stuff in the league. There are pitchers deserving of the HOF not there yet, but no need to denigrate Drysdale and his proper enshrinement. I can see a number of pitchers with strong cases, although certainly not 25 CLEARLY better. He was more than LA hype.
I remember him and so cool that you took the time to post those numbers. He was good. Thank you.
Relief pitchers rarely have a high WAR. Almost all of Drago’s WAR came as a starting pitcher. You are comparing apples to oranges. Sutter was a borderline hall of famer who got in. Drago most certainly does not belong in there. I am sorry for his passing.
RIP
100% accurate. Drago though still had a career I could only dream of.
Agreed and good on you to look up his numbers. Yes, the comparison is a bit of apples and oranges. Regardless, when Drago was a reliever, he was darn good and underappreciated.
Bad comparison and a big reason why I choose to disregard saberstats. Sutter for a time was the best there was. His forkball/splitter was untouchable and he threw multiple innings every time.
RIP
Let’s all keep his brother Ivan in our prayers
Sadly their other brother Billy passed away in 2019.
Remember Dick Drago well. RIP.
RIP Dick…..
Great name for a detective.
RIP Dick Drago, I wonder what Drago would make in today’s market when pitchers like Ross Stripling are making 12.5 million a year.
I believe Dick Drago was credited with a CG in a game where he faced 13 batters. That is the lowest number possible to get credit for a complete game.